White Abarrio lands Oaklawn Handicap over Sovereignty, Journalism

Billed primarily as the latest showdown between last season's three-year-old protagonists, Saturday's $1.25 million Oaklawn H. (G2) instead went the way of White Abarrio, an ageless seven-year-old who continues to add to an already rich resume.

The 1 1/8-mile Oaklawn H. attracted a field of six, but the betting centered on only half of them. The headlines going in were dominated by reigning Horse of the Year Sovereignty, who landed the Kentucky Derby (G1), Belmont (G1), and Travers (G1). He was favored at 9-10.

Journalism, who captured the Preakness (G1), Haskell (G1), and Santa Anita Derby (G1) last term while placing in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont, was next at 17-10. White Abarrio, whose past successes included the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), Pegasus World Cup (G1), Whitney (G1), and Florida Derby (G1), was a clear third choice at 7-2.

Passing the stands the first time it appeared as if White Abarrio would set the pace, but he was soon taken back by jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. entering the first turn, settling in an inside position in third behind unexpected leader Sovereignty. Journalism, three wide entering the first turn, was perched outside of Sovereignty and was within a head of the champion for much of the running.

The action picked up on the far turn and entering the homestretch. Sovereignty and Journalism remained heads apart, with White Abarrio soon to join the pair after swinging off the inside to take a run outside those two. White Abarrio finished the strongest, drawing away from Sovereignty and Journalism to win by two lengths in a time of 1:47.49.

Owned by C2 Racing Stable, Gary Barber, and La Milagrosa Stable, the Saffie Joseph-trained White Abarrio paid $9.20.

Sovereignty, making his first start since the Travers in late August, finished second by 1 1/4 lengths over Journalism, who was making his first start since the Breeders' Cup Classic in early November. Journalism had six lengths on Publisher, who was followed by Duke of Duval and Liberal Arts.

White Abarrio had the benefit of more recent race than both Sovereignty and Journalism, though his second to stablemate Skippylongstocking in the Pegasus World Cup three months ago had been his only run since Aug. 31. An intended starter in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) last fall, he was controversially scratched during the warm-ups.

White Abarrio's focus on the Dirt Mile, rather than the Classic, occurred after a decline in form last season following back-to-back wins in the Pegasus and Ghostzapper (G3). And those two excellent runs occurred after a dull 2024 campaign in which White Abarrio won only once in four starts.

White Abarrio's four-year-old campaign in 2023 was also a tale of two seasons. After a modest beginning, he turned in back-to-back scores in the Whitney and Breeders' Cup Classic to become an Eclipse Award finalist for champion older dirt male.

A son of Race Day, White Abarrio has now won 11 of 25 starts and more than $8.2 million. Whether he can duplicate efforts like the Oaklawn H. the rest of the season remains to be seen, but sustaining form like it through an entire campaign has not been the default through a career of brilliant highs but also many lows.

Sovereignty and Journalism, meanwhile, should come on from this seasonal reappearance. Sovereignty remains the better of the two, having outfinished Journalism in all three meetings.