Oaklawn Smackdown Turns Up the Heat on 2026 Season

Whether it is life imitating art or art getting the jump on life, the showdown between Sovereignty and Journalism gives off a very "Heat" vibe as played in the classic movie scene in which Al Pacino the cop and Robert De Niro the crook face each other while talking tough at a late night diner— Sovereignty: "I do what I do best. I take scores. You do what you do best—try and stop guys like me." Journalism: "I don't know how to do anything else." Sovereignty: "Neither do I." Man, you can almost smell the testosterone. Round 1 of what true fans can only hope is a season-long rivalry takes place April 18 at Oaklawn Park, where the two best 3-year-olds of 2025 emerge at age 4 in the $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2-really?). Such a confluence of shining stars occurs rarely, and colts such as Sovereignty and Journalism—the best of the 18,582 registered North American foals of 2022—do not come along every day. More often than not, an untimely injury or early retirement to stud kneecaps the prospect of savoring talented Thoroughbreds as they mature. In 2008, the game was deprived of a 4-year-old rivalry when Street Sense was retired at the end of 2007, leaving the playing field open to Curlin. Real Quiet and Victory Gallop, the heroes of the 1998 Triple Crown, both raced in 1999, but their paths never crossed. Sunday Silence and Easy Goer—the Neil McCauley and Vincent Hanna of their generation—were headed for a made-for-TV extravaganza at Arlington Park in 1990 when they both went wrong and never raced again. And even though the 10 times Affirmed and Alydar met at ages 2 and 3 should have been enough to satisfy even the greediest of appetites, they might have topped off their feud as 4-year-olds in 1979 if Alydar hadn't chipped an ankle in July. It has been frustrating to hear praise heaped upon the owners of Sovereignty and Journalism for racing their stars at 4. But here we are, celebrating what should be business as usual. At least Journalism was tested last year against older horses, in the Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) and the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). Sovereignty, on the other hand, never left the warm cocoon of his division. Once upon a time, when good 3-year-olds were expected to carry on, there was giddy anticipation for Damascus and Dr. Fager to pick up in 1968 where they left off in 1967, when they split two decisions. Dr. Fager had drawn first blood in the Gotham Stakes as 3-year-olds, early in the season, but Damascus got the last word in the '67 Woodward Stakes, winning by 10 lengths to clinch Horse of the Year honors. As it turned out, they would throw down just twice as 4-year-olds. Dr. Fager beat Damascus in the Suburban Handicap, and Damascus beat Dr. Fager in the Brooklyn Handicap. Both 1 1/4-mile events were presented at Aqueduct Racetrack, 16 days apart. Damascus ran once in between. The stars seem aligned for a crackerjack Oaklawn 'Cap. No excuses will be accepted. After returning to Michael McCarthy's barn at Santa Anita Park in January from a Florida holiday, Journalism recorded his first formal work Feb. 22. Since then, he has had seven more works at intervals of seven, seven, six, eight, six, seven, and six days. Swiss watches burn with jealousy. Sovereignty wintered in Kentucky then headed to Florida, where he commenced a series of eight official workouts at Payson Park Training Center Feb. 15 for Bill Mott at intervals of seven, seven, seven, eight, and seven days before a break of 12 days. That set up a beat of seven days between his last two works and Saturday's race. The Oaklawn Park racing office took the "handicap" part of the race name seriously and pegged Sovereignty at 123 pounds and Journalism at 119. No doubt, this was accounting for the 1 1/2 lengths Sovereignty beat Journalism in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and the 3 lengths Sovereignty beat Journalism in the Belmont Stakes (G1), each time at equal weights. There is also the unwritten Horse of the Year penalty of at least 1 pound added to the Mott colt, which is only fair. As Joe Trovato said when asked about the 128 pounds champion Chris Evert had to carry in the 1975 La Canada Stakes, based on earnings, "I'd rather carry the weight than give back the money." Occurring in the midst of the usual Kentucky Derby anxiety this time of year, the Oaklawn Handicap is proving to be a welcome distraction. Fortunately, the result will not be a matter of life and death to reputations. A lot can happen in the nearly seven months between now and the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland, and hopefully it will. 2025 Kentucky Derby runners: One year later One year ago, April 19, 2025, Sovereignty and Journalism both recorded workouts in preparation for their clash in the Kentucky Derby. Those drills were turned in 2,500 miles apart, with Journalism at Santa Anita and Sovereignty at Churchill Downs. Two weeks later, the pair emerged as the best of 19 runners in the 151st running of the Derby. The owners of the remaining 3-year-olds had struggled mightily to qualify their young runners for a place in the starting gate that day, and they were rewarded with outcomes ranging from noble efforts to "What was I doing here?" Of the 17 finishing behind Sovereignty and Journalism, only third-place Baeza has gone on to take a major event, as he did in winning the 2025 Pennsylvania Derby (G1). Baeza has yet to start this year, but he did work five-eighths at Payson Park April 14, his fifth move since being transferred to Mott after the death of John Shirreffs Feb. 12. East Avenue (eighth in the Derby) and Chunk of Gold (ninth) have won grade 3 events since their swing for the rose-colored fences. Neoequos (13th) has won a couple of black-type races to help pay his way since the Derby, while champion Citizen Bull (15th) managed to win a listed stakes, although it's hard to argue with his near miss to the older Nysos in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1). Of the others, Luxor Cafe (12th) won a small stakes back home in Japan, Flying Mohawk (18th) has posted two allowance-level wins on turf, and Publisher (14th), who was a maiden on Derby Day, seems to have gotten the idea this year with three wins, including an overnight stakes at Oaklawn Park. That leaves nine noble steeds from the 151st Kentucky Derby field who have failed to win a race of any kind since May 3, 2025. At a cost of $50,000 to enter and run, that seems like a tough way of doing business, especially if it was the Derby experience that compromised subsequent form. But try telling that to the 20 or so owners who will be scrambling for a place in the starting gate May 2. America's greatest horse race is racing's greatest obsession.