HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. -- Any question as to how White Abarrio is doing since embarking on the comeback trail was answered, at least in trainer’s Saffie Joseph Jr.'s mind, Thursday morning at Gulfstream Park. The 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner worked five furlongs from the half-mile pole in 1:00.39 before galloping out a full seven furlongs in impressive fashion several minutes after the second renovation break.
White Abarrio is pointing to the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational on Jan. 25 as his first major goal of the new year.
According to Daily Racing Form, White Abarrio, working in company with stablemate Silver Moonlight, posted splits of 23.93 seconds and 47.74 to the wire, galloping out a final eighth under strong handling to complete three-quarters midway on the clubhouse turn in 1:12.11. He then eased up seven-eighths back around at the top of the backstretch into a moderate headwind in a very impressive 1:24.68.
“I thought it was a phenomenal work, the best I’ve ever seen him work in the times I’ve had him,” Joseph enthused after White Abarrio had cooled out about an hour later. “We wanted him to go a steady half and five furlongs, then go out a strong three-quarters and he actually went seven furlongs and kept putting up 12-second furlongs the final three-eighths. This work was beyond expectations. He did it the right way. He came out of it the right way. I just hope he stays in this form up to the race.”
White Abarrio rejoined Joseph’s barn following his disappointing fifth-place finish in the Grade 1 Met Mile on June 8 and has had two starts prepping for the Pegasus, winning a seven-furlong allowance race by 10 1/4 lengths before finishing second behind Mufasa as the 2-5 favorite following a slow start and wide trip going the same distance in the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector on Dec. 26.
Joseph said White Abarrio would have one more work prior to the Pegasus.
“I wanted to work him this morning so it gives us the option of bringing him back to work again anywhere from next Thursday through Sunday, depending upon the weather,” Joseph explained.
White Abarrio is one of two horses Joseph will enter in the Pegasus, along with Skippylongstocking, who closed out a stellar 2024 campaign, during which he earned nearly $1.5 million and won three graded stakes, with a sixth-place finish after breaking from post 13 in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. Skippylongstocking was eased after suffering from heat issues in the 2024 Pegasus.
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“Skippy is doing very good. He’s had a couple of good works going five furlongs at Palm Meadows and will have another tomorrow,” said Joseph. “I thought his Breeders’ Cup Mile was a very credible effort considering the post, he ran hard and he ran his number [on the sheets]. He struggled with the heat in this race last year partly because he drew post 12 and we sent him hard that day.
"We learned not to do that again in the Breeders’ Cup, when he was drawn wide again and more patiently ridden. Hopefully it will stay cool and hopefully he draws a good post. They all need a good post in this race.”
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