Round 3 for Sovereignty, Journalism in Oaklawn Handicap

Round 3 is set between Sovereignty  and Journalism .

The standout 3-year-old males of last year met twice during the 2025 Triple Crown, with Sovereignty defeating favored Journalism in both the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1), each at 1 1/4 miles. Their rivalry resumes April 18 over a shorter 1 1/8-mile distance in the $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2), the kickoff race of 2026 for both colts.

Journalism—who won the 2025 Preakness Stakes (G1), the second leg of the Triple Crown that Sovereignty's connections chose to skip with their colt—is unraced since finishing fourth in the Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Del Mar.

Sovereignty comes off an even longer break, having been out of action since taking the Travers Stakes (G1) by 10 lengths at Saratoga Race Course last summer. He missed a start in the Breeders' Cup Classic because of a fever leading up to the race. His earlier accomplishments still earned him recognition as the Eclipse Award-winning 3-year-old male and Horse of the Year, the most prestigious prize in North American racing.

Sovereignty is set to become the fourth reigning Horse of the Year to run at Oaklawn, following Favorite Trick, Azeri, and Thorpedo Anna .

The Oaklawn Handicap also includes White Abarrio , the 2023 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner who, after being a regulatory veterinarian scratch in the post parade before the 2025 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Del Mar, returned to finish second to stablemate Skippylongstocking  in the Jan. 24 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) at Gulfstream Park. His tactical speed in post 1 could make him the one to catch. He is projected to start as the third choice at 7-2 odds on the morning line, behind Sovereignty at 4-5 and Journalism at 5-2.

The richest horse in the field with earnings of more than $7.7 million, White Abarrio is weighted at 121 pounds, two less than Sovereignty at 123 and two more than Journalism at 119. Five-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. rides the Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained 7-year-old son of Race Day , who races for owners C2 Racing Stable, Gary Barber, and La Milagrosa Stable.

Longshots Liberal Arts , Duke of Duval , and Publisher  complete the field.

Both White Abarrio and Sovereignty ship to Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., from South Florida. Journalism comes to Oaklawn from Southern California, where he has been breezing for trainer Michael McCarthy at Santa Anita Park. 

Speaking with BloodHorse from Oaklawn, Mott acknowledged a degree of wariness with the return of Sovereignty while still anticipating a good effort, saying, "Anytime you're off for eight months, sometimes they get a little tired, or they're not at their peak.

"So this is a race to get started, but it's an exciting race because there's some nice horses in there," he added. "And, of course, Journalism is in there, and they had a little bit of a duel, I suppose, in the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes. So I think they want to take us on again and see if they can beat us this time. And we've got to defend our position."

Junior Alvarado, aboard for eight of Sovereignty's nine races—including all six victories, three of them grade 1s—returns aboard the Godolphin homebred son of Into Mischief  . Jose Ortiz gets a second riding opportunity aboard fellow three-time grade 1 winner Journalism, a son of Curlin  , for owners Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Robert LaPenta, Elayne Stables Five, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith.

The Oaklawn Handicap is the 11th of 12 races at 6:20 p.m. CT Saturday at Oaklawn. The race will be broadcast on FS2 during "America's Day at the Races" and on FanDuel TV.