In a race heralded as the return of the rivalry of last year's top 3-year-olds Sovereignty and Journalism, it was 7-year-old White Abarrio who rolled past his younger rivals in the stretch to win the $1.25 million Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap April 18 at Oaklawn Park.

Ridden by jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., White Abarrio upset 2025 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve winner and reigning Horse of the Year Sovereignty and 2025 Preakness Stakes winner Journalism, who finished second and third, respectively. Both of those 4-year-olds were making their first starts of the year. Sovereignty had not started since winning the Aug. 23 Travers Stakes at Saratoga eight months ago, and Journalism was last seen finishing fourth in the Nov. 1 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic.

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White Abarrio, trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. for owners C2 Racing Stable, Gary Barber, and La Milagrosa Stable, clocked the 1 1/8 miles in a final time of 1.47.49, the fastest running of the Oaklawn Handicap since 1996. He paid $9.20 White Abarrio entered the race as the third choice and paid $9.20 to win. He picked up his seventh graded stakes victory and increased his career earnings to $8,445,170.

Despite only six horses in the field, the race unfolded in a completely unpredictable scenario as Sovereignty, typically a closer, took the lead entering the first turn with Junior Alvarado aboard. White Abarrio had been expected to be the leader, but when Sovereignty took command, jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. found an alternate plan and pulled back and sat a stalking trip as Journalism went up to pressure the pace.

"I went to plan B. I wait, I tracked them, I followed them," Ortiz said.

The five-time Eclipse Award-winning rider's tactics were correct. Journalism stayed within a head of his nemesis Sovereignty on the lead as the pair fired off fractions of :23.13, :47.03, and 1:11.27.

The big three separated from the three others in the field on the far turn as White Abarrio went three wide entering the stretch.

"I was able to put my horse in a position he really likes to be in," Ortiz said. "When he got the position, he gave me a good feeling. I trusted him and he gave me a good kick on the end."

Sovereignty on the inside, and Journalism between horses, battled hard, but in deep stretch the rust may have gotten the best of them. White Abarrio powered home outside to a two-length triumph.

The victory unleashed an outburst of emotions from trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.

White Abarrio passes Sovereignty and Journalism. (Coady Media)

"Thankful for a horse that's given his all to be a champion," an emotional Joseph said. "We thought our horse was doing well, we felt like he was going to run his best, but his best might not have been good enough. It surely was. (The ownership) have been patient, they've listened to the horse. Today we were rewarded with one of the best races for a long, long time."

White Abarrio's long career has included four Grade 1 victories and a triumph in America's richest race, the Breeders' Cup Classic in 2023. He was exiting his first start since late August when he ran a strong second behind stablemate Skippylongstocking in the $3 million Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Jan. 24 at Gulfstream Park.

"He ran huge last time (in the Pegasus). I was so happy and I knew if he got everything together 100% he'd run a big race," Ortiz said.

The potential lack of fitness from a prior start could have taken the power out of Sovereignty and Journalism in the final furlong.

"The two horses who have been off for six to eight months, they both probably got a little tired," Mott said.

Mott said he was surprised to see Sovereignty on the lead and that Alvarado said the colt was doing it on his own. He did take solace in the fact that the Godolphin homebred son of Into Mischief was able to put away Journalism for second after the two raced together for most of the race.

With a lack of two-turn Grade 1 options ahead of him, Mott said the likely next start for Sovereignty will come June 27 in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Stakes at Churchill Downs.

"When he's good, he is (unstoppable), and today he proved it," Joseph said of White Abarrio. "In any kind of sport, you're always going to have people that question the horse, but I think nobody could not root for him today after that performance. I'm just proud of the horse."