Derby distance should be no problem for White Abarrio, trainer says

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - It was business as usual, well almost, for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. here Sunday morning, just 12 hours after he achieved one of his major career goals in winning the Grade 1 Florida Derby with White Abarrio the previous afternoon.

Joseph regularly oversees up to a couple dozen works, weather permitting, each Sunday morning over his home base at Gulfstream Park. But overnight rains and a drying-out racetrack put a bit of a crimp in his plans, with Joseph sending out only seven workers, all after the second break, including the Wood Memorial-bound A.P.’s Secret, this particular Sunday. That left him a little extra time to chat with well-wishers and continue to relish the glory of his first Florida Derby victory.

“It most definitely feels just as good today as it did yesterday,” Joseph responded, when asked if the scope of his accomplishment here Saturday had fully sunk in.

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White Abarrio solidified his impressive credentials heading into next month’s Kentucky Derby with his 1 1/4-length triumph over the green but game Charge It in the $1 million Florida Derby. The win was his fourth in five career starts, the lone setback a third-place finish at Churchill Downs in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club in his 2-year-old finale. White Abarrio received a 96 Beyer Speed Figure for his effort on Saturday, one less than his career high earned for an easier, 4 1/2-length victory in the Grade 3 Holy Bull in his previous start eight weeks earlier.

The victory also earned White Abarrio 100 Kentucky Derby qualifying points, which were awarded to the first four finishers on a 100-40-20-10 basis.

Joseph said all was well with White Abbario on Sunday and that he was looking forward to enjoying the five weeks leading up to the Kentucky Derby on May 7.

“He came out of the race as good as a horse could,” Joseph said. “He left a handful of feed behind last night, but that’s normal for him coming out of a work or a race. But he looked bright and was doing very well this morning.”

Joseph said he also believed that White Abarrio gained a lot of valuable experience during the running of the Florida Derby that should serve him well when stretching to 1 1/4 miles on Derby day.

“I thought he showed a new dimension yesterday,” Joseph observed. "He sat farther back than normal, but was able to get into the race very handily and find more when he needed to when Charge It came to him at the end. He showed some real resiliency and that he was more tractable. That was the first fight he’s really had in any of his races, and he was able to keep digging and find more when he needed to.”

Joseph said he’s not sure if he’ll work White Abarrio two or three times prior to the Derby, but did say all of those breezes would come locally before shipping to Louisville the week of the race.

“We don’t have to worry about fitness, just maintenance going forward with him the next five weeks,” Joseph said. “And the way he relaxed and came off the bridle yesterday gives us plenty of confidence that a mile and one quarter should not be a problem for him.”

Trainer Todd Pletcher said Charge It was doing well on Sunday morning, although he made no commitment regarding his status for the Kentucky Derby. Charge It earned 40 Kentucky Derby qualifying points for his second-place finish in the Florida Derby.

“I only talked briefly with Mandy (owner Mandy Pope) after the race regarding the Derby,” Pletcher said. “I was very happy with the way the horse came out of the race and it’s nice to be in the position to have a horse who is doing well and eligible for the Derby, so we’re going to strongly consider it. He was put in a scenario yesterday that would be intimidating to any horse, let alone one making only his third start. I thought he handled the early going like a more-seasoned horse before showing his inexperience when wandering around a little bit down the lane. But overall, I was very pleased with the way he ran.”

Charge It earned a 93 Beyer for his effort, matching the number from his easy maiden win here six weeks earlier.

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Like White Abarrio, it will also be on to Louisville for Simplification, who finished a tiring third, 2 1/4 lengths behind the winner, after contesting much of the pace while pinned down in what arguably was the deeper footing near the rail for much of the Florida Derby.

Trainer Antonio Sano said the trip was not what he’d envisioned for Simplification, who rallied from seventh position midway through the race to an easy victory four weeks earlier in the Fountain of Youth.

“The five horse (Pappacap) put a lot of pressure on him and made him (Jose Ortiz) start riding near the half-mile pole, which was different for him (Simplification),” Sano noted. “My horse hung very well, hung close. I’m very proud of him. The most important thing was that he ran well and came back well.”

Sano also plans to do all his serious training for the Derby locally before shipping Simplification to Louisville on April 29.

Trainer Brian Lynch happily reported Sunday morning that Classic Causeway, who stopped badly after five furlongs and finished last in the field of 11, seemed to have come out of the race none the worse for wear.

“Everything seems good, he scoped clean and appears fine this morning,” Lynch said. “Irad (Ortiz) said he was in good position but was out of horse at the half-mile pole. It’s just one of those things in racing that are hard to explain. It reminds me of Oscar Performance, who was eased in the Arlington Million and came back (five weeks later) to win the Woodbine Mile. Naturally it’s disappointing, but the main thing is that he came back healthy and we’ll come back fighting.”

Classic Causeway earned enough points with his victories in the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis and Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby earlier this winter to qualify for the Kentucky Derby, although his status remains up in the air in light of Saturday’s performance.

“Everything is up in the air right now,” Lynch said. “Our main goal is to do what’s right by the horse. To make sure that he is fine.”