White Abarrio works easy three furlongs for Kentucky Derby

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Holiday or not, it was back to some serious business for White Abarrio on Easter Sunday at Gulfstream Park. The $1 million Florida Derby winner turned in the first of his three scheduled works leading up to the May 7 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs with an easy three furlongs in 34.49 followed by a very impressive-looking gallop out.

With jockey Junior Alvarado aboard, White Abarrio eased away from the half-mile pole at better than a two-minute pace before officially starting his work at the three-eighths marker, wasting little time showing off his abundant speed over the fast track and posting an 11.34 opening split. White Abarrio, who also won the Grade 3 Holy Bull here earlier this winter, was still in hand when passing through the wire, remaining full of energy into and around the turn, completing four furlongs in 47.48 before easing up a full five-eighths in 1:00.52.

“That was super,” trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said immediately after the work. “I wanted a decent three-eighths with an extended gallop out and that’s what we got.”

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White Abarrio was co-rated as the fifth choice along with Mo Donegal at odds of 10-1 in Daily Racing Form’s latest Derby Watch. The once-beaten son of Race Day will do all his serious training for the Kentucky Derby over his home base at Gulfstream Park, where he’s scheduled to work each of the next two Sundays, weather permitting, prior to shipping to Louisville the week of the race.

Alvarado filled in on Sunday for White Abarrio’s regular jockey, Tyler Gaffalione, who has been riding at Keeneland. Ironically, Alvarado, who decided to continue to ride regularly in South Florida at the conclusion of the Championship meet, also worked the other Kentucky Derby candidate stabled locally, Fountain of Youth winner Simplification, here Friday morning for trainer Antonio Sano. Jose Ortiz, who is also at Keeneland, has ridden Simplification in each of his last two starts.