White Abarrio Breezes, Targeted for Cigar Mile

C2 Racing Stable and La Milagrosa Stable's White Abarrio produced a bullet five-furlong workout in :59.65 at Gulfstream Park Nov. 18 morning in preparation for a planned start against older horses in the Dec. 3 Cigar Mile Handicap (G1) at Aqueduct Racetrack. The 3-year-old son of Race Day most recently finished fifth in the Sept. 24 Pennsylvania Derby (G1) at Parx Racing, but earlier in the year captured the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull Stakes (G3) and the 1 1/8-mile Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa (G1) during the winter and early spring at Gulfstream. He then traveled to run 16th in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), second in the Ohio Derby (G3), and seventh in the TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1) before his Pennsylvania Derby fifth. "I know he's won going a mile and an eighth, but cutting him back in distance is probably going to help him," trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. "Obviously, he's going to have to go there and prove it, but I feel like it's going to be his strong point because he has enough speed to put himself in the race, and he should stay the distance quite well." White Abarrio hasn't run around one turn since capturing a mile optional claiming allowance Oct. 29, 2021, at Gulfstream in his first start since being privately purchased by his current connections following a brilliant debut victory.