First Look: Rivals Sovereignty, Journalism meet again

The 3-year-olds have been scrapping for Kentucky Derby 2026 position all spring. This week, the colts who ran 1-2 in last year's Derby step back into the ring with a Breeders' Cup Classic winner waiting for them. Nobody's easing back in with a tune-up fight.

The Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap puts last year's Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty and Preakness champion Journalism in the same starting gate for the first time since Sovereignty got the better of him in the Belmont at Saratoga. White Abarrio, the 2023 Breeders' Cup Classic winner, joins the party at age 7. Bill Mott sends Sovereignty off a nearly eight-month layoff after the colt closed his 3-year-old season with four straight wins capped by a dominant Travers (G1). Journalism has been off since finishing fourth in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar in November for trainer Michael McCarthy.

Eight stakes across four tracks this week give horseplayers plenty to work with beyond the Oaklawn headliner, including a pair of Preakness qualifiers and graded action on both coasts.

Friday

Doubledogdare (G2), Keeneland, 1 1/16 miles, fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

Gin Gin scored a 38-1 upset in last year's Doubledogdare, when it carried a Grade 3 designation, and went on to capture the Spinster (G1) at Keeneland in October. Brendan Walsh's mare was eased in the Breeders' Cup Distaff in November after breaking through the gate and falling far back, and she has not started since.

Saturday

Elkhorn (G2), Keeneland, 1 1/2 miles, turf, 4-year-olds and up

Grand Sonata snapped a 10-race winless streak when he wore down rivals to take the Mac Diarmida (G2) by a half-length on Feb. 28 at Gulfstream, earning a 94 Beyer Speed Figure, according to Daily Racing Form. Todd Pletcher's 7-year-old hit the board in three of eight starts last season, including a second in the Arlington Million (G1). He finished sixth in last year's Elkhorn behind Utah Beach after encountering traffic in the stretch.

Ben Ali (G3), Keeneland, 1 3/16 miles, 4-year-olds and up

Defending champion Tennessee Lamb fought back to a 1 1/4-length victory in the Ben Ali last year for trainer George Arnold. The Calumet Farm runner was eased in the Blame (G3) at Churchill and finished third in a 6 1/2-furlong optional claimer at Gulfstream in March. Runner-up San Siro closed to finish third in the Essex Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn last out for trainer Brendan Walsh. Rattle N Roll, who captured the Ben Ali in 2023, has not raced since a disappointing ninth in the Saudi Cup (G1) in February for trainer Kenny McPeek.

Federico Tesio, Laurel Park, 1 1/8 miles, 3-year-olds

Only a neck separated Wild Warrior and Code of Silence in the Private Terms at Laurel on March 21, setting up a rematch between two Triple Crown nominees. Gary Capuano's Wild Warrior sat third, surged to the lead and held on to win the 1 1/8-mile stakes, pushing his record to 6: 3-0-2. Timothy Keefe's Code of Silence made a three-wide move to briefly clear the field but drifted late, finishing second for his seventh top-three result in eight career starts.

Oaklawn Handicap (G2), Oaklawn, 1 1/8 miles, 4-year-olds and up

Derby and Belmont rivals Sovereignty and Journalism meet for the first time since last summer's Belmont at Saratoga, joined by 2023 Breeders' Cup Classic winner White Abarrio. Sovereignty won four straight to close his 3-year-old season, capping the run with a 10-length demolition in the Travers (G1) at Saratoga on Aug. 23, earning a 115 Beyer Speed Figure. Bill Mott's colt has not raced in nearly eight months. Journalism finished fourth in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar, recording a 106 Beyer, after winning the Preakness and Haskell (G1) last summer. White Abarrio finished second by 1 3/4 lengths to Skippylongstocking in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 24. Saffie Joseph Jr.'s 7-year-old recorded a 101 Beyer in defeat.

Bathhouse Row, Oaklawn, 1 1/8 miles, 3-year-olds, Preakness qualifier

Western Warrior has reeled off three consecutive Oaklawn victories for Mark Casse after a winless four-start 2025 campaign. The gelding earned a 77 Beyer Speed Figure when scoring by three lengths in a one-mile optional claimer on March 26. He is not Triple Crown nominated. Donnie Von Hemel's homebred Crupper graduated at Oaklawn on Feb. 6, wiring a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight by a neck with a 68 Beyer. Crupper followed with a third-place finish behind Exosome and Top Level in a 1 1/16-mile optional claimer on Feb 28. He has hit the board in all four career Oaklawn starts.

American (G3), Santa Anita, 1 mile, turf, 4-year-olds and up

Almendares finished third in three of his last four starts, most recently rallying from last to grab the show in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G2) on March 7. Phil D'Amato's 6-year-old gelding also collected third in the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream Park and the City of Hope Mile (G2) at Santa Anita. His lone off-the-board finish in that span was a fifth in the Seabiscuit Handicap (G2) at Del Mar.

Sunday

Santa Maria (G3), Santa Anita, 1 1/16 miles, fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

Consistent in graded company but without a win since January 2025, Simply Joking ran second in the Bayakoa (G3), third in the La Brea (G1) and fourth in the Beholder Mile (G1) across her last three starts at one mile or shorter. Michael McCarthy's 4-year-old filly won the Silverbulletday in 2025 and Letellier Memorial in 2024 at Fair Grounds.