Report: White Abarrio will face Sovereignty in Stephen Foster

White Abarrio and Sovereignty, who ran first and second in the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap on April 18, are slated to clash again in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster on June 27.

Saffie Joseph Jr., trainer of White Abarrio, confirmed his plans to point White Abarrio to the Stephen Foster according to a report Monday from David Grening at Daily Racing Form. That puts White Abarrio once again on a collision course with Sovereignty, whose trainer Bill Mott told DRF that he has no plans to back down, and looks forward to running Sovereignty in the Stephen Foster.

On April 18, Sovereignty was sent off the 4-5 favorite for the Oaklawn Handicap, his first start since being scratched from the Breeders' Cup Classic because he had a temperature. Sovereignty disputed the pace through much of the race, but was outfinished by White Abarrio in the final furlong. White Abarrio, making his first start since a runner-up finish in the Pegasus World Cup, won by two lengths.

Sovereignty has been training at Churchill Downs since the Oaklawn Handicap, but is expected to ship to Saratoga next week for the rest of his preparations for the Stephen Foster, according to Grening, who also reported that White Abarrio returned to Joseph's Gulfstream base.