2023 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) hero White Abarrio returned with vigor Nov. 22 at Gulfstream Park, romping by 10 1/4 lengths in his first race since June.
Friday's race also marked the gray or roan's first start since moving back under the care of his former trainer, Saffie Joseph Jr. After completing a successful 3-year-old campaign with Joseph, which included victories in the 2022 Florida Derby (G1) and Holy Bull Stakes (G3), the son of Race Day was transferred to New York-based Rick Dutrow Jr. during the spring of 2023.
White Abarrio then catapulted to the top of his division with scores in the Whitney Stakes (G1) and Breeders' Cup Classic but struggled to find his best form this year, finishing unplaced in both the Saudi Cup (G1) and Metropolitan Handicap (G1).
Bet down as the overwhelming 1-5 favorite in a field of five Friday, White Abarrio broke a step tardy from the gate under Irad Ortiz Jr. but soon pulled himself into a stalking third position. Pouncing on the leaders turning for home, White Abarrio stormed past his rivals and galloped home unchallenged under the wire in a final time of 1:23.52 for seven furlongs.
"It's a relief," Joseph said. "That was an allowance race, but it was a grade 1 for us and the whole connections. It was a very important race. This was the deciding factor for where he goes next as far as (if he'd be) retired. He had to do it well. We asked Irad to let him run a little bit at the end. We needed to see him quicken to see that he's back."
A horse for the course, Friday's allowance optional claimer win was White Abarrio's sixth score in seven starts over the Hallandale Beach, Fla., oval. Owned in partnership by C2 Racing Stable, Prince Faisal bin Khaled bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, and Antonio Pagnano, the 5-year-old has earned more than $5.2 million from 18 trips to the post.
"We were hoping to win this race. You never want to get beyond yourself, but we had to see him do what he did," Joseph said. "We didn't want to be fooled. We wanted to be sure that he's back, and he's back legit. If he was going to show up, we wanted to squeeze him a little bit. Irad (Ortiz Jr.) didn't really want to do that because he was going so good, but he did and (White Abarrio) responded."
Joseph indicated that the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) Jan. 25, 2025, would be the long-range target for White Abarrio, who finished eighth in the 2023 running. Gulfstream's Harlan's Holiday Stakes (G3) Dec. 21 could serve as the gray's prep for the Pegasus.
"Fingers crossed he's back on track and hopefully there's bigger and better things to come," Joseph said.
