Oaklawn Handicap: Sovereignty, Journalism, White Abarrio collide

Reigning horse of the year Sovereignty drew the 4-5 morning line for Saturday's Grade 2, $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap for older horses at 1 1/8 miles.

Oaklawn accepted entries and drew post positions Sunday for the Oaklawn Handicap, which headlines a 12-race card beginning at 1:45 p.m. EDT. Probable post time for the Oaklawn Handicap, the 11th race, is 7:20 p.m. EDT.

Sovereignty will make his 4-year-old debut after winning five of six starts last year for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott and breeder/owner Godolphin, including two legs of the Triple Crown (Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes). Sovereignty has not started since a 10-length romp in the Travers Stakes (G1) at 1 1/4 miles Aug. 23 at Saratoga. He has never faced older horses.

Mott served as Oaklawn's leading trainer in 1986 and won the Oaklawn Handicap in 1995 with future two-time horse of the year Cigar and in 1996 with Geri. Godolphin won the Oaklawn Handicap in 2023 with Proxy and in 2025 with First Mission.

Journalism also ranked among the country's top 3-year-olds of 2025 after winning the Preakness, Santa Anita Derby (G1) and Haskell Stakes (G1) and finishing second behind Sovereignty in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont.

Journalism has not started since finishing fourth in the $7 million Breeders' Cup Classic Nov. 1 at Del Mar. Trainer Michael McCarthy won the 2018 Oaklawn Handicap with City of Light.

White Abarrio has bankrolled $7,713,920 in his career. His resume includes victories in the 2022 Florida Derby (G1), 2023 Whitney Stakes (G1), 2023 Breeders' Cup Classic and 2025 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1). Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. won the 2024 Oaklawn Handicap with Skippylongstocking.

Liberal Arts will make his first start for trainer Heather Irion and owner Osmel Nunez after a $120,000 purchase at Fasig-Tipton's December Digital Selected Sale. Liberal Arts logged six published workouts this year at Oaklawn before moving to Fairmount Park, where Irion is now based.

Liberal Arts won the Street Sense Stakes (G3) for 2-year-olds in 2023 at Churchill Downs for trainer Robbie Medina. In his last start, Liberal Arts won the Knicks Go Overnight Stakes last May at Churchill Downs for trainer Brad Cox.

Publisher needed 12 starts to break his maiden but now rides a three-race winning streak for National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen after capturing the $135,000 American Pharoah Overnight Stakes March 28 at Oaklawn. Stablemate Duke of Duval won a Dec. 28 allowance, marking the 1,000th victory of Asmussen's Oaklawn career.

Sovereignty would become the fourth reigning horse of the year to run at Oaklawn, following Favorite Trick, Azeri and Thorpedo Anna.

Favorite Trick, Mott's 1997 horse of the year, suffered his first career loss in the 1998 Arkansas Derby (G2). Azeri earned 2002 horse of the year honors. A three-time Apple Blossom (G1) winner (2002, 2003 and 2004), Azeri earned induction into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2010. Thorpedo Anna earned 2024 horse of the year honors. She won the 2025 Azeri Stakes (G2) and Apple Blossom en route to an Eclipse Award as champion older dirt female.