Kentucky Derby 2025 Results & Payouts After Sovereignty's Big Win

Heading into the race, Journalism stood as the favorite with odds of 7-to-2, coming into Saturday's race on a four-race winning streak. Sandman came next with 9-to-2 odds while Sovereignty, which finished as runner-up in the Florida Derby, had 9-to-1 odds at race time.

There were also some horses with strong lineage, including Luxor Café, the offspring of 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. Luxor Café was vying to become the first Japanese horse ever to win the Kentucky Derby, having won four straight races in Japan.

Render Judgment also had a famous owner. The colt was raised at Dream Walkin Farms, owned by the late country singer Toby Keith. The singer also named Render Judgment before his passing last year from cancer.

The Kentucky Derby took place in some inclement weather, with heavy rain turning the track at Churchill Downs into muddy slop with heavy puddles.

Heading into the Kentucky Derby, expert Al Bernstein of NBC Sports predicted there would be a "fairly hot pace" with a decent chance of an upset finish.

Bernstein said that "the huge field size can often produce a longshot who tries to 'steal' the race on the front end. In any case, it is reasonable to expect a fast pace."

But in the end, it was two of the favorites -- Sovereignty and Journalism -- in the Kentucky Derby winner's circle.