White Abarrio upsets '25 Triple Crown stars in weekend horse racing
Seven-year-old White Abarrio blew past Horse of the Year Sovereignty and familiar rival Journalism to win going away in the Oaklawn Handicap.
Taj Mahal wins Saturday's Federico Tesio Stakes at Laurel Park, remaining undefeated and earning a spot in the May 16 Preakness Stakes. Photo courtesy of Maryland Jockey Club April 20 (UPI) -- Last year's Triple Crown heroes bowed to the old guy in Saturday's $1. 25 million Oaklawn Handicap, as 7-year-old White Abarrio blew past Horse of the Year Sovereignty and familiar rival Journalism to win going away.
The beatdown of 2025 Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Sovereignty and Preakness winner Journalism wasn't the continuation of a classic rivalry most fans expected. But there were extenuating circumstances, and it's very likely they'll meet again later in the year, anyway. The race didn't shape up as predicted.
Sovereignty and Journalism started well, and White Abarrio's jockey, Irad Ortiz Jr. , who had expected to be in the lead, took back to fourth, saving ground. Turning into the stretch, the 4-year-olds simply ran out of steam and White Abarrio found to resistance as he swept by outside them.
Noting the quality of the competition, winning trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said, "We felt like he was going to run his best when his best may not have been good enough and it surely was. ...
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