SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – White Abarrio turned in arguably his most impressive work since his disappointing fourth-place finish in the Met Mile six weeks earlier when breezing four furlongs in 48.42 seconds with regular rider Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard Monday. White Abarrio, who galloped out six furlongs in a strong 1:13.16, is being pointed to the Grade 1 Whitney on Aug. 2.
“I thought this was his best work since the last race,” trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. “We didn’t want to do too much. We wanted an easy half, out five-eighths, and Irad said he had to take a big hold to pull him up.”
Joseph said he didn’t know what to think following what he felt to be a subpar effort from White Abarrio in the Met Mile when beaten 5 1/4 lengths by Raging Torrent while never a serious factor in the race. White Abarrio had won his two previous starts this season in one-sided fashion, including the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park.
“When you come off of a race where you’re disappointed and he runs below par, all kind of thoughts go through your head,” Joseph acknowledged. “So you just kind of go back to basics, and I think we’re in the right position with him now.”