Bullet work has White Abarrio on path to Pennsylvania Derby

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Florida Derby winner White Abarrio looked like his old self at Saratoga on Sunday, posting the fastest of 106 half-mile works on the tab that morning while cruising the distance in 46.31 seconds under jockey Tyler Gaffalione and paving the way for a possible start in the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby on Sept. 24 at Parx Racing.

White Abarrio is looking to rebound from a disastrous effort in the Grade 1 Haskell when eased to the wire by Joel Rosario 34 lengths behind the winner, Cyberknife.

“We ran him one time too many in the race in New Jersey,” trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. “I put Tyler on him Sunday because he’s worked and ridden him before and I wanted to get his opinion about how he was doing, and he said he thought he worked as good as he had before the Florida Derby.

“Right now, we have no race plans for him, although obviously the Pennsylvania Derby is the target if everything points that way. I think Epicenter is the best 3-year-old in the country, and he won’t be there. If he [White Abarrio] brings his A game, I think he’s as good as any of the other 3-year-olds, except him.”

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Joseph does have plans for his other top 3-year-old, West Virginia Derby winner Skippylongstocking, who is definitely on a path toward the Pennsylvania Derby. Skippylongstocking also worked here Sunday, an easy half in 48.20.