C2 Racing Stable and La Milagrosa Stable's White Abarrio, winner of the Feb. 5 Holy Bull Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park, is likely to return on the Road to the Kentucky Derby in the April 2 Curlin Florida Derby (G1).
"We talked it out over at dinner (Saturday) night, and I'd say its not set in stone, but he's going to straight to the Florida Derby. We don't have to decide now, but everyone was kind of on the same page to go straight to the Florida Derby," trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. "The spacing works well. He runs well fresh, and hopefully, it will set him up for the Kentucky Derby (G1) to run his best."
Making his first start since finishing third in the Nov. 27 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs, White Abarrio proved ready for his return to action despite missing a pair of workouts in preparation for the Holy Bull.
"I'm very excited that he won as nicely as you could ask a horse to win a race, and it was the prep with the most depth so far. To be able to come out victorious, it was amazing," Joseph said. "We had a little setback going into the race. We missed a couple works. You would think he should improve off that. He got a 97 Beyer (Speed Figure). Just to think he could improve off of that—it's a good feeling.
"When you have speed like that and can stay well, you put yourself in a good spot. Speed kills in dirt racing. To have that and also have the stamina to go long, it's a strong combo to have."
After running 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.80, White Abarrio galloped out strongly under Tyler Gaffalione, who called on an outrider for assistance in pulling the winner up.
"That's what you want to see when a horse goes two turns, because you've got to get a mile and a quarter (in the Kentucky Derby). He's done everything so far that it seems like its within his reach," Joseph said.
"He's an athletic horse. He's very light on his feet. He's a beautiful-moving horse. It carries over to race day, which is the main test. He saddles very professionally—cool, calm," Joseph said. "He can get a little keen in the morning. When he gallops, he can get a little keen in the morning, but when you work him in company, he'll relax. It's a good attribute to have—to have speed but the ability to rate."
Trainer Antonio Sano reported that Tami Bobo's Holy Bull runner-up Simplification had a "very good" morning following his remarkable recovery from a horrible start, in which he broke last as he tossed his head as the gates opened.
"In the front or behind, he's a good horse. The horse that won is an excellent horse. If my horse breaks good, the race could be different," Sano said. "The good news after the race is that he is a good horse, on the front or from behind."
Simplification will be pointed to the March 5 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2). Sano saddled eventual $5.5 million earner Gunnevera for a second-place finish in the 2017 Holy Bull before the horse won the Fountain of Youth.
