HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The connections of White Abarrio have announced a slight change in plans for the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner’s next start and final prep for the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational here Jan. 25, opting for the seven-furlong, Grade 3 Mr. Prospector on Dec. 28 rather than the 1 1/16-mile Harlan’s Holiday here one week earlier.
White Abarrio returned from a 5 1/2-month layoff to register an impressive 10 1/2-length allowance victory going one mile on Nov. 22 while making his first start since rejoining trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.’s barn during the summer. The outing was his first since finishing a distant fifth behind National Treasure in the Grade 1 Met Mile at Saratoga for trainer Rick Dutrow, with whom he captured the 2023 Classic seven months earlier at Santa Anita.
White Abarrio returned to the work tab Sunday for the first time since the allowance victory, breezing an easy three furlongs in 37.01 seconds before galloping out a strong half-mile in 49.64.
“He used a seven-furlong allowance race here and the Met Mile, two one-turn races, to bring him back to top form last year,” Joseph said in reference to White Abarrio’s breakout performance in the 2023 Whitney. “And we just decided to follow the same pattern coming into the Pegasus, which is obviously our main goal at the moment. I feel like he’s moved well forward off that first start, and he should really be an improved horse for the Mr. Prospector.”
Joseph also advised that Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint winner Soul of an Angel will return to the work tab next week with the one-mile Rampart to be her final start of the year on Dec. 26.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.