The dynamic rivalry that captured the racing world last year during the Triple Crown is back this Saturday as Sovereignty and Journalism square off again, this time in the Grade II Oaklawn Handicap.
The two that combined to capture all three of the Triple Crown races last year are just two of the six horses along with multiple Grade I winner White Abarrio to make up the field that is the 11th on the card and is set for 4:20 p.m. PDT.
This could be the most anticipated older stakes race of the thus far and for good reason.
Let’s take a look at the entire field in post-position order.
White Abbario (Saffie Joseph Jr., Irad Ortiz, 7/2) was last seen on Jan. 24 when he was second in the Grade I Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream, a race where he was attempting to defend his title. He took the lead in the lane but was passed late by Skippylongstocking. He doesn’t need the lead although he doesn’t want to be far off it. I think you will good value here as the two big 4-year-olds are overshadowing the 7-year-old.
Liberal Arts (Heather Irion, Reynier Arrieta, 15/1) was on the Derby trail in 2024 but after running third in the Southwest, sixth in the Arkansas Derby, and sixth in the Lexington, he didn’t earn enough qualifying points. He has been off almost a year after winning the Knicks Go on the Derby undercard when he was in the Brad Cox barn. He has hit the board in 10-of-13 career starts, with five wins. Comes from off the pace and has been drilling well over the track.
Sovereignty (Bill Mott, Junior Alvarado, 4/5) won five of six starts last year, including the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes in winning the last four starts of the year. He finished second in the Florida Derby last year and as a result was almost 8/1 when the gates opened for the Kentucky Derby. He came from near the back, had the lead when they headed for home and beat Journalism over a length. After missing the Preakness, he came back to beat Journalism by three lengths, sitting closer to the pace, then drawing away to win. He closed the year with a win in the Jim Dandy, then crushed the field by 10 lengths in the Travers in August. He’s been working consistently and extremely well for the return.
Duke of Duval (Steve Asmussen, Keith Asmussen, 20/1) didn’t see a stake race until February of this year when he was fourth in the Mineshaft at the Fair Grounds. He came to run in the Grade III Essex at Oaklawn on March 2 where he finished fifth out of seven runners. He seems vastly overmatched in this spot.
Journalism (Michael McCarthy, Jose Ortiz, 5/2) last ran in the Breeders’ Cup Classic in November where he finished fourth not able to close it out. He was the favorite in the Kentucky Derby last year after winning the San Felipe and Santa Anita Derby. In the Derby he was well back but moved with Sovereignty, getting within a head at the top of the lane but he couldn’t get by and finished second. In the Preakness without Sovereignty, he closed again but this time he got up to win by a half-length. The two rematched in the Belmont and had the lead as they hit the lane, but Sovereignty closed on him and made the pass, leaving Journalism second by three-lengths. The rest of the year, they didn’t face each other with Journalism winning the Haskell, running second to Fierceness if the Pacific Classic, and finally running a solid fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. He likes to sit mid-pack early, then starting to move by the time they hit the final turn. He has been working regularly at Santa Anita for the return.
Publisher (Steve Asmussen, Erik Asmussen, 20/1) was on the Kentucky Derby trail last year, eventually earning a spot in the race as a maiden when he was second in the Arkansas Derby. In Kentucky he was badly beaten 14th. In mid-February, we finally won a race, beating straight maidens are Oaklawn. He then conquered an allowance field March 7, also at Oaklawn, then he won the $135,000 American Pharoah on March 28 for his third straight win. He has shown the fondness to sit in the first half of field, then move on the final turn. No real early speed here so perhaps the connections send him and try to steal it out front.
By Dennis Miller