White Abarrio Fires Bullet In Breeze Toward Another Crack At Met Mile

Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner White Abarrio worked Saturday at Belmont Park, covering a half-mile in a bullet :46.94 over the dirt training track, fastest of 169 works at the distance. 

The 5-year-old son of Race Day worked under  Irad Ortiz Jr., who rode him to victory in the Classic and the Whitney (G1) last August at Saratoga Race Course.

Trainer Rick Dutrow said White Abarrio’s sharpness comes easy to him.

“He went really good. To me it was all basic stuff, I just take what comes” Dutrow said. “Irad was just sitting on him the whole breeze. He’s supposed to be breezing like that when he’s doing good. Irad and him -- those two like each other.”

Dutrow said White Abarrio, who was last seen finishing 10th in the Saudi Cup (G1) in February at King Abdulaziz Racecourse, has been in fine order since his return from Saudi Arabia. The talented gray is on target for another try at the $1-million Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap (G1) on June 8 at Saratoga Race Course, a race he finished third in last year in his first start for Dutrow after being transferred from the barn of Saffie Joseph Jr.

“We’re very happy with him. He’s in good shape right now and there hasn’t been any issue since he ran. It’s all good with him right now,” Dutrow said. “We’re ready to start getting him ready to race, and he likes racing. We’re going to have fun with him. It’s a lot of fun being around him. All horsemen like being around good horses. It gives you a good feeling and man, we got one [Saturday] morning.”

White Abarrio won Gulfstream Park's Holy Bull (G3) and Florida Derby (G1) as a sophomore ahead of an off-the-board finish in the Kentucky Derby (G1). He went on to pick up two more graded placings at three when second in the Grade 3 Ohio Derby (G3) and third in the Cigar Mile Handicap (G1)  three starts before moving to Dutrow.

Bred in Kentucky by Spendthrift Farm, White Abarrio has banked $5,146,350 in total purse earnings through a 16-7-1-3 record. The $40,000 purchase at the OBS March Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale is out of the Into Mischief mare Catching Diamonds, a half sister to dual Group 3 winner Cool Cowboy and Downside Scenario, dam of graded stakes winner and second-year sire Mutasaabeq.