White Abarrio tops Reigning Horse of the Year Sovereignty and Preakness Winner Journalism
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – At the age of 7, White Abarrio demonstrated he’s better than ever, subduing both reigning Horse of the Year Sovereignty and Preakness Stakes winner Journalism to capture Saturday’s Grade 2, $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap at Oaklawn Park.
The Race Day gelding’s triumph marked his fifth graded stakes victory, adding to an already impressive resume that includes wins in the 2023 Whitney Stakes (G1) and 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). Making his first start since finishing second in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park on January 24, White Abarrio proved that veteran class can overcome youthful ambition.
Champions Fall to Veteran’s Experience
Journalism, trained by Michael McCarthy and winner of the 2025 Preakness Stakes, couldn’t match White Abarrio’s determination in the 1⅛-mile test. Similarly, Sovereignty, the Brad Cox-trained Horse of the Year for Godolphin, found the task too tall in his seasonal debut.
For Sovereignty, the defeat came in his first race since capturing the Grade 1 Travers Stakes on August 23, 2025. The lengthy layoff of nearly eight months appeared to take its toll against sharper competition. The Into Mischief colt had entered as the morning-line favorite but couldn’t deliver when it mattered most.
Saffie Joseph Jr.’s Masterful Campaign Continues
Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. has expertly guided White Abarrio through multiple campaigns, and Saturday’s victory validated his decision to target this prestigious race. The South Florida-based conditioner had White Abarrio ready to fire despite facing younger horses with impressive credentials.
The gelding’s ability to maintain top form at age 7 speaks volumes about Joseph’s training program and White Abarrio’s constitution. While many horses decline with age, this veteran continues to thrive against the best in training.
Oaklawn’s Storied Race Delivers Drama
The Oaklawn Handicap lived up to its billing as one of the spring’s premier races for older horses. With a purse of $1.25 million and Grade 2 status, the race attracted exactly the quality field that makes it a cornerstone of Oaklawn’s meeting.
White Abarrio’s victory over such accomplished rivals—a Horse of the Year and a classic winner—reinforces the race’s importance in the national racing calendar. The result also reshuffles the older horse division hierarchy as the season progresses.
Looking Forward in the Handicap Division
Following his game second in the Pegasus World Cup, White Abarrio has now proven he belongs with any horse in training, regardless of age or accolades. His Oaklawn Handicap score positions him for another strong campaign as a 7-year-old, defying conventional wisdom about aging racehorses.
Meanwhile, Sovereignty will need to rebound from this setback as he defends his Horse of the Year title. The extended layoff clearly affected his sharpness, but Cox’s patient approach should have him peaking later in the year. Journalism continues seeking another defining victory to complement his Preakness triumph, with McCarthy plotting the next steps in his campaign.
As the 2026 racing season unfolds, White Abarrio has emphatically announced that reports of his decline are premature. Under Saffie Joseph Jr.’s care, this 7-year-old warrior remains better than ever, as Saturday’s subduing of two champions clearly demonstrated.
