One of the most anticipated races in Oaklawn’s 121-year history
At 0h03, on April 17, 2026 • By Robert Yates, Oaklawn Park
The first of the “Big Three” to commit was White Abarrio and his connections never wavered on that commitment.
Roughly two months later, the highly accomplished White Abarrio will face, for the first time, reigning Horse of the Year Sovereignty and 2025 Preakness winner Journalism in Saturday’s $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) for older horses, a 1 1/8-mile race that is one of the most anticipated in Oaklawn’s 121-year history.
Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. revealed Feb. 18 that the south Florida-based White Abarrio was pointing for the Oaklawn Handicap, which drew a field of six.
“We’re not scared of competition,” White Abarrio’s co-owner, Mark Cornett, said Wednesday morning. “This is what this sport needs. When’s the last time you saw three good horses like this match up? It’s been a while. I can’t remember the last time. It’s good to see. Oaklawn does a heck of a job and with a $1.25 million purse, you’re going to attract horses like this, you would think.”
The Oaklawn Handicap field from the rail out: White Abarrio, Irad Ortiz Jr. to ride, 121 pounds, 7-2 on the morning line; Liberal Arts, Reynier Arrieta, 116, 15-1; Sovereignty, Junior Alvarado, 123, 4-5; Duke of Duval, Keith Asmussen, 116, 20-1; Journalism, Jose Ortiz, 119, 5-2; and Publisher, Erik Asmussen, 118, 15-1.
In his only start this year, White Abarrio finished second behind stablemate Skippylongstocking in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) at 1 1/8 miles Jan. 24 at Gulfstream Park. White Abarrio won the 2025 Pegasus, one of several high-profile victories for the now-7-year-old gray son of 2015 Oaklawn Handicap champion Race Day. White Abarrio also won the 2022 Florida Derby (G1), 2023 Whitney Stakes (G1) and the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).
White Abarrio ($7,713,920) ranks 34th in North American history in career purse earnings, according to Equibase, racing’s official data gathering organization. Now racing for Cornett’s C2 Racing Stable, Gary Barber and La Milagrosa Stable, White Abarrio has a 10-3-3 record from 25 career starts.
