Florida Derby: Fever behind, White Abarrio tunes up with easy three furlongs

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - After missing a scheduled work on Sunday due to a minor setback earlier in the week, White Abarrio got in his final work for Saturday’s $1 million Florida Derby on Tuesday morning at Gulfstream Park, an easy three furlongs in 34.89 over a very fast track shortly after the second renovation break.

White Abarrio, who has not started since his impressive 4 1/2-length victory over Simplication in the Grade 3 Holy Bull on Feb. 5, galloped out with plenty of energy after completing his drill, going a half-mile in 47.12 before easing up five panels in 1:00.85.

“We knew the day after the breeze show for the sale that the track would be souped up a bit, but visually he couldn’t have looked any better. I thought the work was super,” trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. enthused afterwards. “We weren’t looking for much, just for him to quicken up the final furlong and gallop out strong.”

Joseph said he was forced to postpone White Abarrio’s work 48 hours after his horse had spiked a little temperature last Tuesday, causing him to miss two days of training during the week.

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“He’d had a perfect preparation up to that point, then we got thrown a little curve ball and called an audible,” Joseph explained. “Good horses are able to overcome these things.”

Joseph said he’d continue to monitor White Abarrio’s condition the remainder of the week. The Grade 1 Florida Derby will be drawn on Wednesday at 1 p.m.

“Naturally we’d prefer to stay here at home with him, although we have other options if for some reason we have to pass the Florida Derby,” said Joseph, “with the Blue Grass or Lexington the two most likely alternatives.”

Joseph also confirmed that he plans to send both Skippylongstocking and A. P.’s Secret to the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct a week from Saturday.

“We thought about running Skippy here if the Florida Derby had come up a short field, but it looks like there will be nine or 10 in there and it’s asking a lot of him to pass that many horses over this track with his running style,” said Joseph. “We’ve had the Wood picked out for A. P.’s Secret all along because I think the slower track there will help his stamina a little more.”