White Abarrio storms home to win Florida Derby

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – White Abarrio missed some training time due to a temperature, but his stretch run Saturday was right on time, as he rallied past Simplification in deep stretch and held off a run from an inexperienced Charge It to win Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Florida Derby by 1 1/4 lengths.

Charge It, coming off a maiden win and favored for most of the betting, finished second after lugging in during the stretch run. He was sent off the 3-1 third choice and finished a length in front of favored Simplification, who tired a bit late.

It was 3 1/2 lengths back to Pappacap in fourth. He was followed, in order, by O Captain, Steal Sunshine, Strike Hard, King of Truth, Clapton, and Classic Causeway, who was done on the turn after setting the early pace.

White Abarrio was ridden to victory by Tyler Gaffalione, who rode five winners on the card, including four stakes.

The victory also put an exclamation point to a fantastic Gulfstream meet for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., who won his first Gulfstream Park trainer’s title.

White Abarrio, a son of Race Day, is now 2 for 2 this year, adding the Florida Derby to a Feb. 5 victory in the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes.

White Abarrio wasn’t a confirmed starter for the Florida Derby until Tuesday when he put in a bullet three-furlong work. He had missed a few days of training the previous week due to a temperature.

He covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.64 and returned $7.80 to win as the second choice.

White Abarrio earned 100 qualifying points to the May 7 Kentucky Derby.

Charge It, making just his third career start, earned 40 points toward the Derby. He showed his experience by lugging in during the stretch run or else he could have possibly won.

Fifteen Florida Derby winners have come back to win the Kentucky Derby, the last being the Todd Pletcher-trained Always Dreaming in 2017. Overall, the Florida Derby has produced 24 Kentucky Derby winners.

Mike Welsch will have a full recap later here on drf.com.