White Abarrio sizzles in muddy work for Met Mile

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. drove approximately 3 hours and 20 minutes from Long Island to Saratoga on Wednesday afternoon to spend 58.50 seconds working White Abarrio five furlongs the following morning for his upcoming start in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap. And from the looks of the work, all that time on the road was well spent.

Breaking off a couple of lengths behind stablemates Sol Hope and Bustin Bullet, White Abarrio was full of run throughout, posting splits of 23.11 and 46.52 from the half-mile pole to the wire before responding to urging from Ortiz to complete the five furlongs with tons of energy into the turn. He then sustained that momentum around the bend, galloping out six furlongs in 1:10.65 before easing up seven furlongs in 1:24.85. Both Ortiz and trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. agonized over the rainy weather and wet track conditions before finally opting to send White Abarrio out to work over the sealed and muddy main track shortly after 7:00 a.m.

“He worked super. I thought it was every bit as good as his major work a couple of weeks before the Pegasus, which I feel was his best race with us so far,” Joseph said. “The main thing was how he did it. We wanted a strong work without him being asked too much and that’s exactly what we got. Irad was very happy with him. I’m glad we were able to get the work in today. I’d rather be a little ahead of than behind schedule.”

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White Abarrio will be trying the Met Mile for the third time, having finished third and fifth, respectively, in his previous two tries, both of which came for trainer Rick Dutrow.

“You could probably knock his record, he’s 1 for 4 at a mile, but I love the distance for him,” Joseph said. “If he stays as good as he’s doing right now, I really don’t think the distance will be a problem.”

Joseph had a busy morning despite the track conditions and weather conditions at Saratoga on Thursday. Among the other prominent members of his potent stable to breeze was Neoequos, who went an easy half-mile in 48.62 in his first work since his 13th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby.

“We always questioned his ability to stay the distance in the Derby, but he was running well enough on figures to try it,” Joseph said. “It looked briefly like he was going to kick clear. He gave us great enjoyment for like three seconds. Now it’s back to reality.”

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