Sovereignty runner-up on return in G2 Oaklawn Handicap

Reigning Horse of the Year Sovereignty emerged with credit from his first appearance for nearly eight months as he went down by two lengths to a race-fit White Abarrio in the G2 Oaklawn Handicap on Saturday, 18 April.   

Making his first start since scoring by 10 lengths in the Travers Stakes, the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner pressed for the early lead in the nine-furlong highlight alongside his two main rivals, White Abarrio and Journalism.   

Junior Alvarado sent Sovereignty on entering the first turn, with Journalism moving up to within a neck of the Bill Mott-trained four-year-old after the first quarter-mile.   

Sovereignty and Journalism continued to keep close tabs on each other as White Abarrio moved up ominously on the outside of the duo two furlongs out.   

White Abarrio quickened into the lead entering the final furlong and soon forged clear, with Sovereignty, who was conceding weight all round, rallying to finish a length and a quarter in front of Journalism.   

Bill Mott said: “Sovereignty had to do all the running the first out. Junior said the horse was kind of doing it on his own. He didn’t take anything away from him, but he wasn’t pushing him. The two horses that have been off six, eight months probably got a little tired. There’s nothing like having a race. You can train and we trained him up. He ran a good race.”   

Junior Alvarado added: “I thought White Abarrio was going to go the lead. He ended up taking back and I had Journalism breathing down my neck. I was in the middle of both horses, so I couldn’t really take back. If I take back, they walk the dog on the lead. They’re not going to pressure each other. But we needed to get a race with the horse. I think he’ll get a lot out of this race and we’ll move forward from this race.”