2026 Oaklawn Handicap picks, odds: Horse racing writer has best bet for Sovereignty-Journalism rematch

Horse racing's best rivalry resumes on Saturday when reigning Horse of the Year Sovereignty faces three-time Grade 1 winner Journalism in the 2026 Oaklawn Handicap at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark. Last year Sovereignty beat Journalism twice—in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes—en route to being named Horse of the Year. But the Bill Mott trainee hasn't raced since August. Like Sovereignty, Journalism also will be making his first start of the year. For Saturday Sovereignty has been installed as the 4-5 morning-line favorite in the Oaklawn Handicap odds, while Journalism is the 5-2 second choice. White Abarrio (7-2), Liberal Arts (15-1), Publisher (15-1) and Duke of Duval (20-1) round out the six-horse Oaklawn Handicap field. Post time for the Oaklawn Handicap is 7:20 p.m. ET, with temperatures forecasted to be in the high 50s around post time and a chance of rain. 

With several talented horses set to enter the starting gate on Saturday, you NEED to see what SportsLine horse racing expert Gene Menez has to say before making any 2026 Oaklawn Handicap picks or horse racing predictions considering what he pulled off earlier this year.

A former reporter and editor at Sports Illustrated, Menez covered an array of sports, including horse racing, for the magazine and its website for almost 14 years. Between 2010 and 2012, he served as SI's handicapper for the Triple Crown races and correctly predicted Super Saver to win the Kentucky Derby in 2010.

In 2015, while writing for Sports on Earth, Menez accurately gave out the Kentucky Derby superfecta (American Pharoah, Firing Line, Dortmund and Frosted), which paid $1,268.20 for $2. Then in 2017, he tweeted out his Kentucky Derby picks, including Always Dreaming to win, and hit the Pick 4, which paid almost $6,900 on a $1 bet. In 2024, Menez gave out 18-1 Mystik Dan as a live longshot in the Kentucky Derby. 

Menez excels on horse racing's biggest days. In 2024 he crushed the late Pick 4 on Breeders' Cup Saturday for a $5,303 windfall. Last year he nailed the winner, trifecta and superfecta in the Florida Derby for a $529.60 score and the winner and trifecta in the Blue Grass Stakes for a $761.96 jackpot. Hit the late Pick 4 on Kentucky Oaks day for $915.48. In the Kentucky Derby, he hammered the exacta and trifecta for a $1,045 payout.

And earlier this year, on Fountain of Youth day, he struck big, hitting the late Pick 5 for $4,648.

Last year Menez put his handicapping skills up against the best horseplayers and finished 115th out of 643 entries in the Breeders' Cup Betting Challenge, the biggest live-money handicapping tournament in the country.

Now, Menez has handicapped the 2026 Oaklawn Handicap field and revealed his picks. We can tell you that Menez is completely tossing Sovereignty, even though he is the reigning Horse of the Year and overwhelming 4-5 favorite. "If there's a time to try to beat Sovereignty, it's Saturday," he says. Menez is not using Sovereignty in any of his wagers.

Instead, Menez's top pick is a horse who "may get lost in the betting." Menez is including this horse in his 2026 Oaklawn Handicap bets, and so should you. You ABSOLUTELY NEED to see which horse it is before making any 2026 Oaklawn Handicap picks of your own.

So which horse wins the 2026 Oaklawn Handicap? And how has Menez constructed his wagers? ... Join SportsLine NOW to get the top 2026 Oaklawn Handicap picks and bets, all from the expert who hit the Fountain of Youth day late Pick 5 for $4,648.