White Abarrio to Skip Saudi Cup, Will Target Met Mile

C2 Racing Stable, co-owner of Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes(G1) hero White Abarrio, has announced that their stable star will not pursue a return bid in the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) Feb. 22. The news was revealed on the social media platform X Feb. 5, 11 days after the 6-year-old's dominating performance at Gulfstream Park. Rather than make the trip to the Middle East, C2 Racing Stables wrote that White Abarrio would pursue a domestic campaign and "target major U.S. stakes events throughout 2025." Last year, the son of Race Day finished a disappointing 10th in the Saudi Cup after a situation where he was on the plane "for about 24 straight hours" when his departure flight was delayed in Miami, according to C2 Racing Stable's Mark Cornett. Campaigned in partnership by C2 Racing, Prince Faisal bin Khaled bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, and Antonio Pagnano, White Abarrio will target the March 29 Ghostzapper Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park with the long-term goal being the $1 million Metropolitan Handicap (G1) at Saratoga Race Course June 7. White Abarrio's connections expressed that the decision had nothing to do with the horse's health or physical condition following his 6 1/4-length tour de force in the Pegasus World Cup. Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. had told the Gulfstream Park media team the day after the Pegasus that White Abarrio had "bounced out well" following his first grade 1 score since taking the 2023 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). The Pegasus was the gray/roan's second win since rejoining Joseph's barn last fall. After beginning his career with Joseph, White Abarrio was transferred to Rick Dutrow Jr. during his 4-year-old campaign. Soul of an Angel Closer to Joining Saudi Cup With the defection of White Abarrio as well as 2024 Breeders' Cup Classic winner and champion 3-year-old male Sierra Leone, who was declared out of the race by trainer Chad Brown earlier Wednesday due to a foot abscess, C2 Racing Stable, Agave Racing Stable, and Ken Reimer's Soul of an Angel could be next up to join the Saudi Cup field. The 2024 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) winner, Soul of an Angel worked a half-mile in :47.80 Feb. 2 at Gulfstream. Also trained by Joseph, the daughter of Atreides was recently crowned the Eclipse Award-winning champion female sprinter. Soul of an Angel has made one start since her last-to-first tally in the Breeders' Cup, finishing a close third behind Windy Walk and Power Squeeze in the Dec. 26 Rampart Stakes. After her Sunday work, Joseph said he was still hoping to get an invite. "We're still kind of waiting a bit to see if we get in to Saudi. They told us we were likely invited, and then said we were on the reserve list," Joseph said Feb. 2.