Junior Alvarado, the main jockey for Sovereignty—the Horse of the Year for 2025—is set to return to Gulfstream Park on Thursday following a surprising incident in Saturday’s Holy Bull (G3) event. The 39-year-old rider was sidelined Sunday after being replaced in three scheduled rides. His absence followed a mishap during Race 9, an optional claiming allowance for four-year-olds and older, when his mount, Multiverse, clipped heels and threw him to the turf at the first turn. Fortunately, Multiverse was uninjured.
Alvarado was taken to the hospital after the fall and needed stitches on his knee but was otherwise fine, according to his agent Mike Sellitto. Although cleared to ride on Sunday, he chose to rest to aid his healing process. On Saturday, Alvarado had a strong showing by winning aboard Roar Lady, a 5-year-old owned by Victor Barboza Jr., and finishing second with Redland Rebels, owned by Patrick Biancone. In his absence on Sunday, Javier Castellano finished sixth on Tesselato in the Forward Gal (G3), while Edgardo Zayas rode longshot Spicy Princess to a runner-up finish in the Sweetest Chant.
Heading into Sunday, Alvarado ranked fourth with 26 wins and third with 145 mounts, earning over $1.7 million at the championship meet that began on Thanksgiving, November 27. His notable victories include wins on Pegasus filly Turf (G2) Destino d’Oro, Inside Information (G2) Grand Job, Mr. Prospector (G3) Knightsbridge, and the Tropical Park Derby (G3) Layabout. Looking ahead to Thursday, Alvarado is booked for four of the 10 races, including guiding Godolphin homebred Spirit of Hope—a 4½-year-old half-sister to 2023 Horse of the Year Cody’s Wish—in her first special weight start in Race 6, a one-mile contest on the main track.
This story first appeared in the News section of the Paulick Report on February 1, 2026.
Fan Take: Junior Alvarado’s quick recovery and return are pivotal for fans tracking top jockeys and elite horses like Sovereignty. His presence boosts competition and excitement at Gulfstream Park, signaling a thrilling continuation of the championship meet.
