Sovereignty gets acquainted with Oaklawn racetrack
| Wednesday’s Oaklawn Park media notes by Robert Yates (photo above of Sovereignty in his Oaklawn stall by Robert Yates) Reigning Horse of the Year Sovereignty got his first feel of the Oaklawn racing surface Wednesday morning, galloping a mile in advance of his 2026 debut in Saturday’s $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2). Escorted to the track by his Hall of Fame trainer, Bill Mott, Sovereignty visited the indoor paddock and galloped after the first surface renovation break. “Easy day,” Mott said. “He was ready to do something. He was happy that he was able to do something.” The Oaklawn Handicap will mark the 4-year-old debut of Sovereignty, who won five of sixstarts last year for Mott and breeder/owner Godolphin, including two legs of the Triple Crown (Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes). Sovereignty was also North America’s champion 3-year-old male of 2025. Sovereignty hasn’t started since a 10-length romp in the Travers Stakes (G1) at 1 ¼ miles Aug. 23 at Saratoga. Sovereignty, who has never faced older horses, vanned to Oaklawn after previously being based in south Florida. The son of super sire Into Mischief arrived Tuesday morning. “It’s a long trip, but it was a good trip,” Mott said. “Sovereignty unloaded good and looked fine and ate up well and seems like he’s got good energy.” Sovereignty is one of six horses entered in the 1 1/8-mile Oaklawn Handicap, which headlines a 12-race card that begins at 12:45 p.m. CDT Saturday. Probable post time for the Oaklawn Handicap, the 11th race, is 6:20 p.m. Two other stakes races will be run Saturday – $200,000 Bathhouse Row for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles and the $200,000 Valley of the Vapors for 3-year-old fillies at one mile. The Oaklawn Handicap field from the rail out: White Abarrio, Irad Ortiz 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. Journalism was also one of the country’s top 3-year-olds of 2025 after winning the Preakness – the second leg of the Triple Crown – Santa Anita Derby (G1) and Haskell Stakes (G1) and running second behind Sovereignty in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont for Southern California-based trainer Michael McCarthy.Journalism, Publisher and Duke of Duval stood in the gate together Wednesday morning. Publisher and Duke of Duval are trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen. Millionaire multiple Grade 1 winner White Abarrio galloped after the first surface renovation break Wednesday morning for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. White Abarrio won the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). Haulin Ice to Unbridled Sidney Millionaire multiple Oaklawn stakes winner Haulin Ice is “doing great” after returning to her South Florida base and will make her next start on grass, co-owner Mark Cornett said Wednesday morning. Cornett said Haulin Ice is pointing for the Unbridled Sidney Stakes (G2) for fillies and mares, 3 and up, at 5 ½ furlongs on the turf May 1 at Churchill Downs. Haulin Ice has just one start on turf, finishing second in the Abundantia Stakes Dec. 27 at Gulfstream Park for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. Haulin Ice is two-for-two this year, scoring repeat victories at Oaklawn against Arkansas-breds in the $150,000 Downthedustyroad Stakes Feb. 20 and beating opening company in the $200,000 Matron Stakes March 27. Both races were six furlongs. “She’s so versatile,” Cornett said. “That’s the beautiful thing about this. With the turf races, we’ve actually got some Grade 1s to run in and we’ve got some big multi-million dollar races (in Kentucky) to look at, too. The opportunities are pretty meaningful on the grass.” Haulin Ice became the leading accredited Arkansas-bred career money winner with a victory in the Princess Rooney Stakes (G3) Sept. 20 at Gulfstream Park. Haulin Ice became the first accredited Arkansas-bred to reach $1 million in career earnings with a front-running 11 ¾-length victory in the Downthedustyroad. Haulin Ice ran the fastest six furlongs in Oaklawn history by a female (1:08.75). Haulin Ice is an eight-time stakes winner, but she’s never captured a Grade 1 event. “We’d love to do that,” Cornett said. “But the problem with that is the Grade 1s for fillies are all seven furlongs, which I don’t understand. I’d like to keep her at six.” A 5-year-old gray daughter of Coal Front, Haulin Ice has a 12-5-0 record from 21 lifetime starts and earnings of $1,227,750. She races for C2 Racing Stable (Mark and brother Clint Cornett), WSS Racing (William Simon) and Agave Racing Stable (Mark Martinez). Mark Cornett is in Hot Springs to watch White Abarrio run in Saturday’s $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2). White Abarrio, a millionaire multiple Grade 1 winner, is co-owned by C2 Racing Stable. Finish Lines Oaklawn stakes winners Silent Tactic, Counting Stars and Search Party are now scheduled to depart Friday afternoon for Churchill Downs to continue preparations for the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks, Caden Arthur, assistant to dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse, said Wednesday morning. “Change of plan,” Arthur said. “Something happened with the van company.” The horses were originally scheduled to leave Wednesday. Arthur said champion Nitrogen is scheduled to leave Monday for Keeneland, then head to Saratoga to prepare for her next start. Nitrogen ran second in last Saturday’s $1.25 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) for older fillies and mares. … Two-time Oaklawn riding champion Cristian Torres rode 11 winners last week to push his meet-high total to 60, three better than runner-up Ramon Vazquez. Torres recorded his third triple of the week Sunday, winning the first race aboard favored Tizntshelovely ($3.60) for trainer Dallas Stewart, second race aboard Miss Chocolatte ($5.60) for trainer Ernie Witt II and the sixth race aboard Good Call ($7.80) for trainer Bill Martin. … Torres is scheduled to miss the final three days of the 2025-2026 meeting because of commitments at Churchill Downs, his agent, Cody Autrey, said Wednesday morning. Autrey said Torres will ride Minaret Station for trainer Will Walden in a race April 30, Search Party in the Kentucky Oaks May 1 and Silent Tactic in the Kentucky Derby May 2. Autrey also represents Vazquez. He will miss May 1, Autrey said, to ride Pashmina for trainer Rob Atras in the Kentucky Oaks. Vazquez has never won an Oaklawn riding title. … Parchment Party is pointing for the Isaac Murphy Marathon Stakes for older horses at 1 ½ miles April 29 at Churchill Downs, Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott said Wednesday morning. Parchment Party, in his last start, won the $200,000 Temperence Hill Stakes for older horses at 1 ½ miles March 28 at Oaklawn. |
