4/16/26 Barn Notes
by Robert Yates
The first of the “Big Three” to commit was White Abarrio and his connections never wavered on that commitment.
Roughly two months later, the highly accomplished White Abarrio will face, for the first time, reigning Horse of the Year Sovereignty and 2025 Preakness winner Journalism in Saturday’s $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) for older horses, a 1 1/8-mile race that is one of the most anticipated in Oaklawn’s 121-year history.
Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. revealed Feb. 18 that the south Florida-based White Abarrio was pointing for the Oaklawn Handicap, which drew a field of six.
“We’re not scared of competition,” White Abarrio’s co-owner, Mark Cornett, said Wednesday morning. “This is what this sport needs. When’s the last time you saw three good horses like this match up? It’s been a while. I can’t remember the last time. It’s good to see. Oaklawn does a heck of a job and with a $1.25 million purse, you’re going to attract horses like this, you would think.”
The Oaklawn Handicap field from the rail out: White Abarrio, Irad Ortiz Jr. to ride, 121 pounds, 7-2 on the morning line; Liberal Arts, Reynier Arrieta, 116, 15-1; Sovereignty, Junior Alvarado, 123, 4-5; Duke of Duval, Keith Asmussen, 116, 20-1; Journalism, Jose Ortiz, 119, 5-2; and Publisher, Erik Asmussen, 118, 15-1.
In his only start this year, White Abarrio finished second behind stablemate Skippylongstocking in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) at 1 1/8 miles Jan. 24 at Gulfstream Park. White Abarrio won the 2025 Pegasus, one of several high-profile victories for the now-7-year-old gray son of 2015 Oaklawn Handicap champion Race Day. White Abarrio also won the 2022 Florida Derby (G1), 2023 Whitney Stakes (G1) and the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).
White Abarrio ($7,713,920) ranks 34th in North American history in career purse earnings, according to Equibase, racing’s official data gathering organization. Now racing for Cornett’s C2 Racing Stable, Gary Barber and La Milagrosa Stable, White Abarrio has a 10-3-3 record from 25 career starts.
“Just a sound horse that wants to keep running,” Cornett said. “We haven’t over raced him. At this point in his career, Saffie and us, C2, and Gary, we know the horse very well, what he’s happy with, what he likes to do. It’s just about keeping him happy on the racetrack.”
White Abarrio was vanned to Oaklawn and arrived Monday.
“I think they were on the road for 18 hours,” Cornett said. “He’s doing great. He came in here perfect.”
White Abarrio has never raced at Oaklawn. Joseph won the 2024 Oaklawn Handicap with Skippylongstocking. Now 7, Skippylongstocking won the $500,000 Essex Handicap (G3) March 21. The 1 1/8-mile Essex was a major local prep for the Oaklawn Handicap.
Probable post time for the Oaklawn Handicap, the 11th of 12 races, is 6:20 p.m. (Central). Racing begins at 12:45 p.m.
Publishing Good News
A maiden in late February running against Sovereignty, Journalism and White Abarrio in late April might seem far-fetched. Then again, Publisher was no ordinary maiden in late February.
Publisher entered the starting gate for the second race Feb. 15 at Oaklawn with $493,396 in career earnings, a runner-up finish in the 2025 Arkansas Derby (G1) and a 2025 Kentucky Derby appearance on his resume. Missing, of course, was a victory. Publisher, in his 13th attempt, took care of that by 5 ¾ emphatic lengths under Erik Asmussen, who has ridden the colt in his last four starts.
Now riding a three-race winning streak, Publisher gets another shot at Sovereignty and Journalism in Saturday’s $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) for older horses at 1 1/8 miles.
“Very, very excited for the challenge,” Asmussen said Wednesday morning. “I’m probably running against the three best older horses in the country, but what I know is how good my horse is doing and the form he’s in and these other horses are coming off a layoff. So, I’m just extremely excited for the opportunity and the challenge.”
Asmussen was reunited with Publisher last fall in the Oklahoma Derby (G3), where he finished fourth. In Publisher’s last start at 3, he finished second as the odds-on favorite in a one-mile maiden special weight Dec. 26 at Oaklawn. The winner, Nu What’s New, was a front-running 7 ½-length winner in one of the fastest mile races (1:35.52) in Oaklawn history. Nu What’s New returned to win the $500,000 Oaklawn Mile (G3) March 28.
As for Publisher, a new year has produced new results climbing the class ladder. After breaking his maiden Feb. 15, Publisher won a first-level allowance by a neck March 7 and the $135,000 American Pharoah Overnight Stakes by 1 ½ lengths March 28. All three of Publisher’s victories this year have been at 1 1/16 miles.
“His confidence has gotten so much better and with each win he trains more and more sharp,” Asmussen said. “I think he’s going out there to win now. I’m extremely excited how he’s doing. I know how tough of a challenge it is, but I believe he’s up for it.”
Publisher is one of six horses entered in the Oaklawn Handicap. The field is headed by reigning Horse of the Year and 2025 Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty, 2025 Preakness winner and Kentucky Derby runner-up Journalism and 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner White Abarrio. The Oaklawn Handicap will mark the 2026 debuts for Sovereignty and Journalism and the first start since the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) Jan. 24 at Gulfstream Park for White Abarrio.
Publisher ran 14th in the Kentucky Derby, but Asmussen said he’s always had faith in the 4-year-old.
“I’ve never been in a race I didn’t think that horse could win and that’s not going to change on Saturday,” Asmussen said.
Publisher, a son of 2015 Horse of the Year and Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, is owned by Gus King and the Estate of Brereton C. Jones. King purchased Publisher for $600,000 at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton New York Select Yearling Sale.
Publisher is trained by Asmussen’s father, Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, who won the 2021 Oaklawn Handicap with Silver State. Publisher has a 3-4-3 record from 15 lifetime starts and earnings of $715,396.
Finish Lines
Bendoog is the 5-2 program favorite for Friday’s ninth race, a stakes-caliber $128,000 allowance for older horses at 1 1/16 miles. Bendoog, who has $975,166 in career earnings, races for his trainer, Hall of Famer Bill Mott, and prominent Arkansas businessman Frank Fletcher. The 7-2 third choice in the program is Stronghold for trainer Phil D’Amato. Stronghold won the 2024 Santa Anita Derby (G1), one of the country’s top Triple Crown prep races. … Heavily favored Munnings Challenge, the first foal to reach the races out of multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Amy’s Challenge, was a sparkling five-length maiden winner last Saturday for trainer Brad Cox and breeder/owner Joseph Novogratz. It was the 3-year-old colt's second career start. By Munnings, Munnings Challenge ($2.80) ran six furlongs in a sharp 1:09.48 under Jose Ortiz. “That was really happy to see,” Mac Robertson, who trained Amy’s Challenge for Novogratz, said Sunday morning. “Joe’s been great to me.” … Two-time Oaklawn riding champion Cristian Torres will ride East Avenue in the Alysheba Stakes (G2) May 1 at Churchill Downs, his agent, Cody Autrey, said Wednesday morning. East Avenue, in his last start, finished second in the $500,000 Oaklawn Mile (G3) March 28 to surpass $1 million in career earnings for trainer Brendan Walsh and breeder/owner Godolphin.
