Saffie captures $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap

ARKANSAS, United States – Barbadian trainer Saffie Joseph Jr continued his impressive showing in 2026 by winning the US$1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap with White Abarrio at Hot Springs over the weekend.

With Irad Ortiz Jr in the saddle, the seven-year-old White Abarrio – the 2023 Breeders’ Classic winner – was a comfortable winner by two lengths over 2025 Horse of the Year Sovereignty, with another pre-race favourite Journalism finishing third.

The race was largely billed as a rematch between returning four-year-olds Sovereignty and Journalism, who distinguished themselves during last year’s Triple Crown. Sovereignty won both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes and Journalism was the dramatic winner of the Preakness Stakes.

However, White Abarrio broke on top and took the field to the first turn of the 1 1/8-mile race, conceding the lead to Sovereignty soon afterward.

The reigning Horse of the Year and 4-5 favourite proceeded to run the opening quarter in 23.13 seconds, the half-mile in 47.03, and six furlongs in 1:11.27, with Journalism in close pursuit. They battled on the final turn, as Ortiz Jr moved White Abarrio off the rail, and they advanced three wide.

White Abarrio worked to get past the leaders in the stretch, then asserted himself in the final sixteenth as both Sovereignty and Journalism ran on well, with Journalism finishing eight lengths clear of fourth-place finisher Publisher.

White Abarrio covered the distance on a fast track in 1:47.49. It was the fastest Oaklawn Handicap since 1996, when Geri won in 1:47.40.

“He has such a following. The horse, he’s been going so long. It’s nice to see how much appreciation people have for him.

“You don’t want to disappoint the fans when you have a horse like this now. You don’t want to disappoint the fans or the horse. It’s not even about us anymore,” Joseph said after the win.

White Abarrio’s earnings now stand at $8.4 million. He has won 11 of 26 starts, and his most significant wins include the Florida Derby in 2022, the Breeders’ Cup Classic in 2023 and the Pegasus World Cup in 2025.

CMC