White Abarrio Jogs, Happy Jack Gallops at Churchill

After some morning thunderstorms rolled through Louisville, Ky., April 3, a sloppy track greeted a pair of Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) contenders in White Abarrio  and Happy Jack  as they settle in at Churchill Downs.

Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa (G1) winner White Abarrio arrived at Churchill at 4:30 a.m. Monday after a 17 1/2-hour van trip from Gulfstream Park. Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said White Abarrio handled the trip well and seemed comfortable in his first trip to the track Tuesday morning for a leg-stretching jog.

Since C2 Racing Stable and La Milagrosa Stable's White Abarrio won the Florida Derby April 2, the son of Race Day  has worked three times at Gulfstream: a three-furlong move April 17 in a bullet :34.55, five furlongs in 1:00.04 April 24, and a half-mile breeze in a bullet :48.28 April 30. 

"He's had good preparation so far," said Joseph, who will be starting a horse in the Derby for a second time after sending out Ny Traffic  to an eighth-place finish in 2020. "His last one was the best yet as far as how he did it. We're happy with how things have gone."

The Florida Derby has produced 24 Kentucky Derby winners, the most of any prep race. Despite that, White Abarrio is listed at 10-1 on this year's morning line while Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) winner Zandon  is favored at 3-1 and TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) winner Epicenter  is second-choice at 7-2.

"I think Zandon is kind of the buzz horse coming off of that big race in the Blue Grass and the Florida Derby was before that race," Joseph said. "I think people kind of forget. In this game it's kind of a convenient memory of 'Who is the latest?' But I think the Florida Derby is going to prove to be a good prep. It has in the past; it's produced the most Derby winners. In this particular year, they're critiquing it a little harsh but if he jumps up and wins the Kentucky Derby it will turn out to be the best prep. No one knows in this game; everyone has their opinion."

While White Abarrio faced a long Derby-week journey, third-place Runhappy Santa Anita Derby (G1) finisher Happy Jack enjoyed a short van ride from Keeneland Sunday, one day after working two turns—going one mile in 1:39 3/5 under Rafael Bejarano, who is scheduled to ride Saturday. After the van trip of about an hour, the son of Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Oxbow   settled into Barn 41 for trainer Doug O'Neill. 

With exercise rider Tony Romero up, Happy Jack made his first trip to the track Monday—jogging twice around—and O'Neill said he looked comfortable on the off-track Tuesday, a session that included some gate training and a 1 1/4-mile gallop. 

Barn 41 previously served as the Derby-week home for both of O'Neill's Derby winners: I'll Have Another  in 2012 and Nyquist   in 2016. O'Neill thinks that consistency doesn't hurt.

"These horses are mirrors of us, right? The crew is so settled in here because we've been blessed to come to this barn for the past 10 years or so," O'Neill said. "It does seem like a home away from home. He's settled in, eating well. I like how he stood in the gate today and he galloped well. We're happy."