White Abarrio back to work, will point to BC Dirt Mile
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White Abarrio returned to the work tab at Gulfstream for the first time since his eventful fifth-place finish in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup on Aug. 31 at Saratoga, zipping three furlongs in 33.60 seconds before galloping out a half-mile in 46.40 on Thursday.
White Abarrio, who won both the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational and Grade 3 Ghostzapper here during the Championship meeting, was involved in a bizarre incident shortly after the start of the Jockey Club Gold Cup. There, he slammed into Mindframe and briefly had both his own rider, Edgard Zayas, and that rival’s jockey, Irad Ortiz Jr., on his back going by the grandstand the first time. White Abarrio ultimately finished eight lengths behind race winner Antiquarian.
Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said White Abarrio will remain at Gulfstream and train up to his next start in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on Nov. 1 at Del Mar.
“He went a little quicker than he was supposed to go this morning, but he came out of the last race fine and is doing well,” Joseph said. “It’s hard not to put a line through his last start. He got into a good spot after the early incident and flattened out, but being bumped as hard as he was and after also carrying Irad for a few strides, you just never know how much all that took out of him.”
Joseph said he feels the Dirt Mile gives White Abarrio his best chance at the Breeders’ Cup.
“The Classic is coming up a very solid race,” Joseph said. “He’s never been a two-turn mile, but I feel that should suit him very well.”
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