Kentucky Derby champion Sovereignty, Journalism clash in Oaklawn Handicap comeback

Apr 13, 2026 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

Sovereignty winning the Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs (Photo by Horsephotos.com)

Last year’s Kentucky Derby (G1) champion Sovereignty returns to action in Saturday’s $1.25 million Oaklawn H. (G2). His main rival from the 2025 classics, Journalism, is launching his comeback in the same 1 1/8-mile feature, making for a spectacular clash at Oaklawn Park.

Sovereignty was crowned Horse of the Year for his outstanding three-year-old campaign, highlighted by a rare sweep of the Derby, Belmont (G1) and Travers (G1). The Godolphin homebred was set for last November’s Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), only to be scratched after coming down with a fever.

Unraced since his 10-length romp in the Travers at Saratoga Aug. 23, Sovereignty has been gearing up in his works at Payson Park. The Bill Mott trainee will reunite with regular rider Junior Alvarado at Oaklawn, where he will break from post 3 in a six-horse field.

Sovereignty will carry the top weight of 123 pounds, giving four pounds to Journalism. This is the first time that Sovereignty is conceding weight to Journalism, since they toted the same weight (126 pounds) in the Triple Crown races. It’s also the first time that Sovereignty is facing a few older rivals.

Journalism went off as the favorite in the 2025 Kentucky Derby, but he had to settle for second to the surging Sovereignty. When Sovereignty skipped the Preakness, Journalism advanced to the middle jewel and scored a dramatic victory at Pimlico. The Belmont served up an eagerly-anticipated rematch between the two classic winners, and Sovereignty confirmed the Derby result by rolling to a three-length tally over Journalism.

As Sovereignty stayed at Saratoga for the summer, Journalism continued on his travels to Monmouth Park and just got up in time in the Haskell (G1). The Michael McCarthy pupil was able to remain at his Southern California base for his last two starts, both versus older horses. Second in the Pacific Classic (G1), Journalism was fourth to Japanese star Forever Young in the Nov. 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic back at Del Mar.

🚨𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐑𝐓🚨

𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗸 with @HorseRacingKK is LIVE from the backside @ChurchillDowns 👀

KK pulled up on the @KennyMcPeek barn and things got REAL… fast 😂🐎

Unfiltered. Unexpected. Only on the backside.

You never know who Kevin’s gonna run into… pic.twitter.com/PlwBSZ0hdL

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) April 13, 2026

Yet they’re not the only accomplished Derby alumni in the race. Saffie Joseph Jr.’s White Abarrio, the 2022 Florida Derby (G1) hero who wound up 16th in that year’s Run for the Roses, will try to crash the party. The seven-year-old veteran has bankrolled more than $7.7 million in his career, with his other major wins including the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic and Whitney (G1) as well as the 2025 Pegasus World Cup (G1). Most recently runner-up in his Pegasus title defense at Gulfstream Park, White Abarrio has drawn the rail at Oaklawn.

Still another Derby alumnus in the field is Publisher, who was 14th behind Sovereignty and Journalism at Churchill Downs. The son of Triple Crown champion American Pharoah took a while to score his first win, but he’s now gotten in the habit with three in a row here for Steve Asmussen.

Rounding out the field are fellow Asmussen runner Duke of Duval, coming off a fifth in Oaklawn’s Essex H. (G3), and Liberal Arts, a competitor on the 2024 Derby trail who resumes from a nearly year-long layoff.

The Oaklawn ‘Cap is scheduled for 7:20 p.m. ET, as the 11th race, and you can watch and wager at TwinSpires.com.