White Abarrio Takes Down Sovereignty, Journalism in Oaklawn Handicap

We knew it was going to be a battle of the big three, and so it was late with White Abarrio (Race Day) pulling rank to claim the GII Oaklawn Handicap over Horse of the Year Sovereignty (Into Mischief).

Understandably and unsurprisingly, the seasonal debuts of both MGISW Sovereignty and MGISW Journalism (Curlin) dominated the front pages in the days leading up to this contest. For many in the editorial community, as it went for the betting public, the best horse in 2025 was the horse to beat here and the Oaklawn Handicap unwittingly became the rematch we'd all been waiting for all these long months.

But for some, there were questions as to how ready Godolphin's champion would be having been gone since Aug. 23 when he dominated the GI Travers Stakes. Both Journalism and White Abarrio had starts under their belt after Sovereignty went on the shelf with the latter just missing a title defense in the GI Pegasus World Cup this past January. Skippylongstocking, who defeated his stablemate in the Pegasus, himself claims a spot in the Oaklawn annuals as the Handicap victor in 2024.

But horse racing does so enjoy a plot twist.

In a surprising change of events, it was 4-5 favorite Sovereignty who stepped out to set the pace through an opening quarter in :23.13 and a half in :47.03 while his rival Journalism never let him far out of his sights. More than capable of being the speed horse, White Abarrio deferred the lead and found himself in third along the rail with Publisher (American Pharoah) tracking just behind him in fourth. He contentedly watched the race unfold through six panels in 1:11.27 under a confident ride and was under mild urging through the far turn as they inched closer to the lane.

Still in third as the 4-year-olds closed ranks swinging for home, the grey wasn't back there long as he sailed by his inner challengers from the grandstand side with a decisive kick. As his juniors battled it out for the minors, White Abarrio had the race won, hitting the wire two lengths to the good over Sovereignty. Journalism settled for third while the rest of the field was almost eight lengths behind that trio.

The final time was 1:47.49, making it the fastest running of the Oaklawn Handicap since 1996 when Bill Mott ironically defended his crown in the race with Geri–one year after the legendary Cigar took home the honors for owner Allen E. Paulson. Hall of Famer Jerry Bailey was aboard for both of those victories.

“I thought I was going to be on the lead, but, honestly, when I saw Sovereignty broke that sharp and I saw Journalism beside him–he didn't want to let him walk-[I thought] it's going to be a match race, so I could probably take advantage of it,” said Irad Ortiz Jr. “I was in good position inside of them, so I took my time and went to Plan B. It worked out beautiful.”

“We felt like he was going to run his best when his best may not have been good enough and it surely was,” said trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. “Congrats to the all connections–[owners] Mark Cornett, Gary Barber and La Milagrosa. They've been patient and listened to the horse. Today we were rewarded in one of the best races in a long, long time. It really materialized, the match-up. Thanks for all my team that worked so hard with this horse.”

Seven years old, 25 career starts, over $7.7 million in earnings and still delivering on the big stage! WHITE ABARRIO wins the G2 Oaklawn Handicap under @iradortiz for trainer @SaffieJosephJr. pic.twitter.com/MuzS0KzIjS

— NYRA (🗽) (@TheNYRA) April 18, 2026

Team Sovereignty, while surprised with how the race shaped up, were quite pleased with the effort. Mott suspected that his charge simply tired late after the long layoff.

“[Junior Alvarado] said [Sovereignty] was kind of doing it on his own. He didn't take anything away from him, but he wasn't pushing him. They [White Abarrio, Sovereignty and Journalism] showed up. The two horses that have been off six, eight months probably got a little tired. There's nothing like having a race. You can train and we trained him up. He ran a good race.”

Alvarado concurred, stating, “I thought White Abarrio was going to go the lead. He ended up taking back and I had Journalism breathing down my neck. I was in the middle of both horses, so I couldn't really take back. If I take back, they walk the dog on the lead. They're not going to pressure each other. But we needed to get a race with the horse. I think he'll get a lot out of this [start] and we'll move forward.”

Jose Ortiz, aboard Journalism, reported similar thoughts and similar problems with the race shape. “Good trip. I thought White Abarrio was going to be the speed, but he took back on the first turn. I just sat there next to Sovereignty. We were traveling very good the first half a mile. I was very happy.”

“At the three-eighths pole, I started approaching [Sovereignty] little by little. I knew White Abarrio was right behind us. I didn't want to get caught sleeping, so I started asking…when we hit the quarter pole, we went all in. White Abarrio's a very nice horse. Sovereignty's a very nice horse. For Sovereignty and me, we're coming back. Very good race for both of them. I think it was a very good race for the fans and, hopefully, the rivalry continues.”

Pedigree Notes:

White Abarrio is a legacy in this contest as far as familial records in the Oaklawn Handicap. His sire, Race Day, was himself a winner back in 2015 when he posted a final time of 1:47.93, then the fastest result since the great Medaglia d'Oro in 2003 (with Jerry Bailey in the irons once again that year in yet another double for connections). As a stallion, Race Day counts 11 stakes horses with White Abarrio far and away the best runner of the lot.

The grey is the first foal for Catching Diamonds, and as is the curse of the eldest sibling, has cast a long shadow for his brothers and sister to outrun. Two of them are winners in their own right while the 3-year-old filly Flower Stone (Yaupon) is unplaced. The dam's most recent is a yearling colt by Taiba and she is due to National Treasure in 2026. Catching Diamonds is a half-sister to the dam of GI Madison Stakes victress Eclatant (Into Mischief) and that one's full-brother GSW & GISP Mutasaabeq.

This female family has produced a long line of Brazilian-bred champions in South America as well as Group/Grade I winners in both hemispheres.

Saturday, Oaklawn Park
OAKLAWN H.-GII, $1,250,000, Oaklawn, 4-18, 4yo/up, 1 1/8m, 1:47.49, ft.
1–WHITE ABARRIO, 121, h, 7, by Race Day
                1st Dam: Catching Diamonds, by Into Mischief
                2nd Dam: Grand Breeze, by Grand Slam
                3rd Dam: Breeze Lass, by It's Freezing
($7,500 Ylg '20 OBSWIN; $40,000 2yo '21 OBSMAR). O-C2 Racing Stable, LLC, Gary Barber & La Milagrosa Stable, LLC; B-Spendthrift Farm, LLC (KY); T-Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. $731,250. Lifetime Record: MGISW, 26-11-3-3, $8,445,170. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Sovereignty, 123, c, 4, Into Mischief–Crowned, by Bernardini. O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-William I. Mott. $243,750.
3–Journalism, 119, c, 4, Curlin–Mopotism, by Uncle Mo. ($825,000 Ylg '23 FTSAUG). O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, LaPenta, Robert V., Elayne Stables Five, Magnier, Mrs. John, Tabor, Michael B. and Smith, Derrick; B-Don Alberto Corporation (KY); T-Michael McCarthy. $121,875.
Margins: 2, 1 1/4, 8. Odds: 3.60, 0.90, 1.70.
Also Ran: Publisher, Duke of Duval, Liberal Arts.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.