Sovereignty is favorite for Saturday’s $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap
At 0h34, on April 16, 2026 • By Robert Yates, Oaklawn Park
Reigning Horse of the Year Sovereignty was installed the 4-5 program favorite for Saturday’s $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) for older horses at 1 1/8 miles.
Entries were accepted and post positions drawn Sunday for the Oaklawn Handicap, which headlines a 12-race card that begins at 1:45 p.m. Probable post time for the Oaklawn Handicap, the 11th race, is 6:20 p.m. Two other stakes races will be run Saturday – $200,000 Bathhouse Row for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles and the $200,000 Valley of the Vapors for 3-year-old fillies at one mile.
The six-horse Oaklawn Handicap field from the rail out: White Abarrio, Irad Ortiz 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.
Sovereignty will be making 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 hasn’t started since a 10-length romp in the Travers Stakes (G1) at 1 ¼ miles Aug. 23 at Saratoga. He has never faced older horses.
Mott was Oaklawn’s leading trainer in 1986 and won the Oaklawn Handicap in 1995 with future two-time Horse of the Year Cigar and 1996 with Geri. Godolphin won the Oaklawn Handicap in 2023 with Proxy and 2025 with First Mission.
