White Abarrio upstages Sovereignty, Journalism in Oaklawn Handicap

Apr 18, 2026 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

White Abarrio was too strong for Sovereignty and Journalism in the Oaklawn H. (G2) (Photo by Coady Media)

Saturday’s $1.25 million Oaklawn H. (G2) served up a rematch between the top two from last year’s Kentucky Derby (G1), Horse of the Year Sovereignty and Journalism, but it was the elder statesman of the field – 2022 Kentucky Derby participant White Abarrio – who rolled right past them in the stretch.

Although White Abarrio went off as the 3.60-1 third choice, the seven-year-old veteran had strong credentials. Hero of the 2022 Florida Derby (G1), 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) and Whitney (G1), and 2025 Pegasus World Cup (G1), he had more than $7.7 million in earnings going into Saturday’s showdown.

White Abarrio also wasn’t coming off as long a layoff as Sovereignty and Journalism. Sovereignty hadn’t raced since romping in last summer’s Travers (G1), and Journalism was last seen finishing fourth in the Nov. 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar. White Abarrio was himself set for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1), only to be controversially scratched at the gate, and he’d since returned with a runner-up effort in the Pegasus back at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 24.

Drawn on the rail at Oaklawn Park, in a small field lacking a real pacesetter, White Abarrio figured to use his tactical speed early. Indeed, jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. gave him a thorough pre-race warm-up that appeared to reinforce the idea that he would try to go to the front.

The Saffie Joseph Jr. trainee broke alertly and grabbed a slim lead, but Sovereignty, the 9-10 favorite, was fresh and eager to go alongside him. Journalism likewise went forward in the initial strides, making it a line of three abreast passing the stands for the first time.

Sovereignty, who was between rivals at that point, surprisingly committed to the lead by the time they reached the opening quarter-mile in :23.13. The Godolphin homebred had never set the pace before in his career. Ortiz then made the split-second decision to defer to the favorite, easing White Abarrio back into a stalking role on the clubhouse turn.

But Journalism, the 1.70-1 second choice, was determined to press archrival Sovereignty. The four-year-olds treated it like a match race through fractions of :47.03 and 1:11.27, setting up a favorable scenario for White Abarrio.

Journalism threw down his most serious challenge at the top of the stretch, and Sovereignty was finding more to counterpunch. Looming up on the outside was the biggest threat of all, a rallying White Abarrio with a full head of steam.

As his younger foes continued to duke it out, White Abarrio blew by to win by two lengths. He was emulating his sire, Race Day (by Tapit), who captured the 2015 Oaklawn ‘Cap.

The 7-year-old 𝗪𝗛𝗜𝗧𝗘 𝗔𝗕𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗜𝗢 wins the Oaklawn Park Hcp. (G2) under jockey @iradortiz who made a masterful move at the top of the stretch for trainer @SaffieJosephJr #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/cU7wm29Mus

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) April 18, 2026

White Abarrio’s final time of 1:47.49 was the fastest in the 1 1/8-mile feature since Hall of Famer Cigar posted 1:47.22 in 1995. Cigar’s stablemate, Geri, went almost as fast when clocking 1:47.52 the following year.

Cigar and Geri were both trained by Bill Mott – Sovereignty’s trainer. The odds-on favorite wasn’t able to give Mott his third Oaklawn ‘Cap trophy, but he did maintain his superiority over Journalism. Sovereignty, who was giving Journalism four pounds as the 123-pound highweight, repelled him by 1 1/4 lengths.

Journalism, runner-up to Sovereignty in last year’s Derby and Belmont (G1), was relegated to third here. There was an eight-length gap back to Publisher in fourth, followed by Duke of Duval and Liberal Arts.

Campaigned by C2 Racing Stable, Gary Barber, and La Milagrosa Stable, White Abarrio rewarded his fans with $9.20. The nearly-white star improved his record to 26-11-3-3, and his bankroll now stands at $8,445,170.

White Abarrio is a rags-to-riches story, as a bargain-basement $7,500 yearling who sold for $40,000 as an OBS March two-year-old. Bred by Spendthrift Farm in Kentucky, he is out of the Into Mischief mare Catching Diamonds, who is a half-sister to multiple Group 3 scorer Cool Cowboy and a close relative of Grade 1-winning sprinter Eclatant.

Nor was he the only Derby also-ran to win a major race on Saturday. Burnham Square, a troubled sixth behind Sovereignty and Journalism at Churchill Downs last year, demolished the Elkhorn (G2) on the Keeneland turf.

Trained by Ian Wilkes and ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr., the Whitham Thoroughbreds homebred drew off by 9 3/4 lengths – a stakes-record margin. The Elkhorn is held over the same course and 1 1/2-mile distance as this year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1), and Burnham Square has stamped himself as the leading U.S. contender for the Oct. 31 prize.

As the Elkhorn and Oaklawn ‘Cap demonstrate, it’s worth following Derby alumni over the long term, no matter what their luck might have been on the first Saturday in May.

𝗕𝗨𝗥𝗡𝗛𝗔𝗠 𝗦𝗤𝗨𝗔𝗥𝗘 wins the G2 Elkhorn Stakes at Keeneland in breathtaking fashion with jockey @b_hernandezjr in the irons for trainer @IanWilkesRacing and breeder/owner Whitham Thoroughbreds.#TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/B6tj1ExoF3

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) April 18, 2026