The 2026 Oaklawn Handicap (G1) appears like a throwback race to a bygone period in sport the place true horse racing heavyweights of the handicap/older male division would meet often in marquee stakes throughout the nation.
This April 18 version of the Oaklawn Handicap has the making of a Muhammad Al—Joe Frazier—Sonny Liston–sort battle. Final yr’s Horse of the 12 months, Sovereignty , takes the Ali function after successful the 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1) He has not raced since a 10-length romp the Travers Stakes (G1) greater than 7 1/2 months in the past at Saratoga Race Course.
Racetrack:Â Oaklawn Park, Scorching Springs, Ark.Date:Â April 18Purse:Â $1,250,000Distance:Â 1 1/8 milesRace:Â 11Post Time:Â 7:20 p.m. ETNotable winners:Â Skippylongstocking (2024), Metropolis of Gentle (2018), Will Take Cost (2014), Tiago (2008), Lawyer Ron (2007), Peace Guidelines (2004), Medaglia d’Oro (2003), Behrens (1999), Cigar (1995), Greatest Pal (1992), Snow Chief (1987), Turkoman (1986), Wild Once more (1984), Temperence Hill (1981), Cox’s Ridge (1978), Grasp Derby (1976).First held:Â 1946
The competitors is likewise elite in 2025 Preakness (G1) and Haskell Stakes (G1) winner Journalism and 2023 Breeders’ Cup Traditional (G1) winner White Abarrio , who comes out of a runner-up end in his bid for a repeat win within the 2026 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1).
Watch the Oaklawn Handicap from Oaklawn Park on FS2 on the NYRA-produced “America’s Day on the Races” from 4-8 p.m. ET or by way of FanDuel TV.
1. White Abarrio (7-2 morning-line odds): Returned from a layoff of greater than 4 1/2 months with a runner-up end to Skippylongstocking within the Jan. 24 Pegasus World Cup. He pale after opening a transparent lead within the stretch and will enhance in his second begin of the yr. White Abarrio can run with anybody at his finest—he owns a field-best 122 high Equibase Pace Determine—however at age 7 it is honest to marvel if maybe he is misplaced half a step. That may very well be the distinction between victory and defeat within the Oaklawn Handicap.Join BloodHorse Day by day
JOCKEY: Irad Ortiz Jr.; TRAINER: Saffie Joseph Jr.
2. Liberal Arts (15-1): A number of stakes winner makes his first begin in 11 1/2 months for a brand new coach towards a stacked subject. 5-year-old was final seen successful the Knicks Go Stakes by three-quarters of a size on a sloppy monitor on final yr’s Kentucky Derby undercard. Liberal Arts has completed within the high three in 10 of 13 profession begins.
JOCKEY: Reynier Arrieta; TRAINER: Heather Irion
3. Sovereignty (4-5): He put collectively a dominant 3-year-old season with 5 wins (all on the grade 1 or grade 2 degree) and one second from six begins to earn the Eclipse Award as Horse of the 12 months. Sovereignty’s 115 Beyer Pace Determine for the Travers win is 5 factors higher than anybody within the subject, however will he be prepared to fireplace that sort of race in his first begin since August? He gained his 3-year-old debut final yr after a prolonged layoff and has labored steadily since Feb. 15 for Corridor of Fame coach Invoice Mott.
JOCKEY: Junior Alvarado; TRAINER: Invoice Mott
4. Duke of Duval (20-1): He is unplaced in two begins in stakes races for Corridor of Fame coach Steve Asmussen and winless in two tries at this distance. Duke of Duval does personal a win on the Oaklawn fundamental monitor, however his earlier stakes efforts and pace figures point out he is outclassed right here.
JOCKEY: Keith Asmussen; TRAINER: Steve Asmussen
5. Journalism (5-2): Journalism is 2-for-2 at this 1 1/8-mile distance with these victories coming final yr within the Santa Anita Derby (G1) and Haskell Stakes, however like Sovereignty he returns from an prolonged layoff within the Oaklawn Handicap. The Curlin  colt has not raced in 5 1/2 months since ending fourth within the Breeders’ Cup Traditional Nov. 1 at Del Mar and has prepped for his comeback with a gradual sample of exercises since Feb. 22. He is misplaced twice to Sovereignty at 1 1/4 miles, so if he’ll beat him it most likely can be at this distance.
JOCKEY: Jose Ortiz; TRAINER: Michael McCarthy
6. Writer (15-1): First gained nationwide consideration in final yr’s Kentucky Derby the place he was bidding to turn into the fourth maiden to win the Run for the Roses and the primary since Brokers Tip in 1933. He by no means did get that elusive first win in eight begins a yr in the past however has taken a pleasant step ahead at age 4. Writer enters the Oaklawn Handicap on a three-race successful streak and ran arguably one of the best race of his profession March 28 at Oaklawn when successful the American Pharoah Stakes by 1 1/2 lengths. He has three wins and three seconds in eight begins at Oaklawn.
JOCKEY: Erik Asmussen; TRAINER: Steve Asmussen
THE PICK: Journalism
LIVE LONGSHOT: Writer
TRIFECTA: 5-3-6
