Veteran White Abarrio swept past 2025 champion Sovereignty late and went on to a two-length win Saturday in the Grade 2, $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap.
Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., the 7-year-old went off as the 7-2 third choice in the six-horse field. He broke alertly but took back through the first turn to track the favored pair of 2025 Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty and 2025 Preakness Stakes winner Journalism through fractions of 23.13, 47.03 and 1:11.27.
Ortiz tipped White Abarrio off the rail nearing the far turn and ranged up alongside the leaders at the quarter pole. Swinging five wide into the lane, the gray took command past the eighth pole and forged clear in the final sixteenth.
His final time of 1:47.49 over the fast main track was the fastest Oaklawn Handicap since 1996.
Sovereignty dug in gamely under Junior Alvarado for trainer Bill Mott to hold second by 1 1/4 lengths over Journalism, who pressed the pace under José Ortiz for trainer Michael McCarthy. Publisher, Duke of Duval and Liberal Arts completed the order of finish.
