White Abarrio's next race not finalized
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – White Abarrio, fourth in the Grade 1 Whitney on Aug. 2, returned to the work tab Thursday morning at Saratoga, going a half-mile in 47.16 seconds under Irad Ortiz Jr. Going in company with Alexander Helios, winner of the Grade 3 Razorback at Oaklawn during the winter, White Abarrio went his first quarter-mile in 23.27 seconds and his second in 23.89 while pulling away from his workmate.
White Abarrio has been mentioned as a possibility for either the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 30 or the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup on Aug. 31. Both are run at 1 1/4 miles and are “Win and You’re In” races for the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 1.
“I just feel like the horse right now is back,” trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. “The last time I worked him back in 12 days was before the Pegasus. I feel like that’s what we’re sitting on right now. Fingers crossed he stays like this. We still have a long way to go.”
Last December, White Abarrio finished second in the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector Stakes before coming back a month later to win the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream by 6 1/4 lengths. Since the Pegasus, White Abarrio won the Grade 3 Ghostzapper at Gulfstream before finishing fourth in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap and Grade 1 Whitney.