The 2026 Oaklawn Handicap feels like a throwback race to a bygone era in sport where true horse racing heavyweights of the handicap/older male division would meet regularly in marquee stakes across the country.

This edition of the Oaklawn Handicap has the making of a Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier-Sonny Liston-type battle. Last year’s Horse of the Year, Sovereignty, takes the Ali role after winning the 2025 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve and Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets. He has not raced since a 10-length romp the DraftKings Travers Stakes more than 7 ½ months ago at Saratoga Race Course.

The competition is likewise elite in 2025 Preakness and NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes winner Journalism and 2023 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic winner White Abarrio, who comes out of a runner-up finish in his bid for a repeat win in the 2026 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes.

Watch the Oaklawn Handicap from Oaklawn Park on FS2 on the NYRA-produced “America’s Day at the Races” from 4-8 p.m. ET or via FanDuel TV.

1. White Abarrio (7-2 morning-line odds): Returned from a layoff of more than 4 ½ months with a runner-up finish to Skippylongstocking in the Jan. 24 Pegasus World Cup. He faded after opening a clear lead in the stretch and could improve in his second start of the year. White Abarrio can run with anyone at his best – he owns a field-best 122 top Equibase Speed Figure –  but at age 7 it’s fair to wonder if perhaps he’s lost half a step. That could be the difference between victory and defeat in the Oaklawn Handicap.

JOCKEY: Irad Ortiz Jr.; TRAINER: Saffie Joseph Jr.

2. Liberal Arts (15-1): Multiple stakes winner makes his first start in 11 ½ months for a new trainer against a stacked field. Five-year-old was last seen winning the Knicks Go Stakes by three-quarters of a length on a sloppy track on last year’s Kentucky Derby undercard. Liberal Arts has finished in the top three in 10 of 13 career starts.

JOCKEY: Reynier Arrieta; TRAINER: Heather Irion

3. Sovereignty (4-5): He put together a dominant 3-year-old season with five wins (all at the Grade 1 or Grade 2 level) and one second from six starts to earn the Eclipse Award as Horse of the Year. Sovereignty’s 115 Beyer Speed Figure for the Travers win is five points better than anyone in the field, but will he be ready to fire that type of race in his first start since August? He won his 3-year-old debut last year after a lengthy layoff and has worked steadily since Feb. 15 for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.

JOCKEY: Junior Alvarado; TRAINER: Bill Mott

4. Duke of Duval (20-1): He’s unplaced in two starts in stakes races for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen and winless in two tries at this distance. Duke of Duval does own a win on the Oaklawn main track, but his previous stakes efforts and speed figures indicate he’s outclassed here.

JOCKEY: Keith Asmussen; TRAINER: Steve Asmussen

Preakness winner Journalism (Eclipse Sportswire)

5. Journalism (5-2): Journalism is 2-for-2 at this 1 1/8-mile distance with those victories coming last year in the Santa Anita Derby and Haskell Stakes, but like Sovereignty he returns from an extended layoff in the Oaklawn Handicap. The Curlin colt has not raced in 5 ½ months since finishing fourth in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Nov. 1 at Del Mar and has prepped for his comeback with a steady pattern of workouts since Feb. 22. He’s lost twice to Sovereignty at 1 ¼ miles, so if he’s going to beat him it probably will be at this distance.

JOCKEY: Jose Ortiz; TRAINER: Michael McCarthy

6. Publisher (15-1): First gained national attention in last year’s Kentucky Derby where he was bidding to become the fourth maiden to win the run for the roses and the first since Brokers Tip in 1933. He never did get that elusive first win in eight starts a year ago but has taken a nice step forward at age 4. Publisher enters the Oaklawn Handicap on a three-race winning streak and ran arguably the best race of his career March 28 at Oaklawn when winning the American Pharoah Stakes by 1 ½ lengths. He has three wins and three seconds in eight starts at Oaklawn.

JOCKEY: Erik Asmussen; TRAINER: Steve Asmussen

THE PICK: Journalism

LIVE LONGSHOT: Publisher

TRIFECTA: 5-3-6