Carter pits streaking Repo Rocks against sharp last-out winner White Abarrio
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Repo Rocks, a winner of four straight races, and White Abarrio, the 2022 Florida Derby winner who won an allowance last out, head a field of at least eight runners expected for Saturday’s Grade 1, $300,000 Carter Handicap at Aqueduct.
Repo Rocks, based at Parx with trainer Jamie Ness, has successfully shipped to Aqueduct twice with dominant victories in the Grade 3 Toboggan and the listed Stymie. He completed preparations for the Carter on Monday, when he worked a half-mile in 47.05 seconds at Parx. It was his third consecutive bullet move.
Conversely, White Abarrio worked a half-mile in 50.68 seconds Sunday at Gulfstream Park, according to Daily Racing Form’s Mike Welsch. Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said he has purposely worked White Abarrio on the slower side lately.
“He worked so good [going] into the Pegasus and he ran so crappy,” Joseph said. “After that we just decided to gear him back a notch, cut him back in distance, let him have a little more spunk for the race and he ran big.”
White Abarrio on March 4 won a seven-furlong allowance race by 4 1/2 lengths over Weyburn, who came back to win Saturday’s Sir Shackleton Stakes at Gulfstream.
Joseph said Paco Lopez will ride White Abarrio for the first time on Saturday.
Others expected for the Carter are Bold Journey, Expressman, Get Her Number, Little Vic, Runninsonofagun, and Today’s Flavor. Dr. Ardito is possible.
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