White Abarrio Headed to Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park

The July 23 TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1) may wind up with six starters, but it will be loaded with quality as four grade 1 winners appear set to pass the entry box July 20 for the $1 million test for 3-year-olds at Monmouth Park.

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. has informed Monmouth officials that he will be shipping Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farm at Xalapa (G1) winner White Abarrio  from Florida to New Jersey for the 1 1/8-mile stakes, increasing the number of top-level winners in the probable field.

Owned by C2 Racing Stable and La Milagrosa Stable, the son of Race Day also won the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) earlier this year. Since the Curlin Florida Derby, he was 16th in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) and then second by a length to Tawny Port  in the June 25 Ohio Derby (G3).

The gray colt drilled five furlongs in 1:01.62 July 18 at Gulfstream Park and is slated to get on a van to Monmouth July 19 and arrive the following day.

"He's plenty fit. It was a good work; in hand, in company. We weren't looking for much," Joseph said about the colt bred by Spendthrift Farm. "I talked it over with the owners and they wanted to try, so we'll give it a go."

The field for the Haskell also figures to include grade 1 winners Jack Christopher , Taiba , and Cyberknife , as well as Howling Time , and Benevego. All five of them prefer to run on or near the lead, which could create an excellent set-up for White Abarrio, who rallied from fifth in the Curlin Florida Derby.

We the People , owned by WinStar Farm, Bobby Flay, CMNWLTH, and Siena Farm, had also been considered a possibility for the Haskell, but WinStar CEO, president, and racing manager Elliott Walden said July 18 that the son of Constitution   is headed to the Aug. 6 $500,000 West Virginia Derby (G3) for 3-year-olds at Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort.

"We felt the West Virginia Derby is the best spot for him, and we'll target the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) after that," Walden said.

We the People, trained by Rodolphe Brisset, was a front-running 10 1/4-length winner of the Peter Pan Stakes (G3) over a sealed, good track at Belmont Park, but then set the pace and tired to finish fourth in the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) at 1 1/2 miles. The likelihood of a fast, contested pace in the Haskell also played a role in opting for the West Virginia Derby.

"The biggest concern for the Haskell was how he would fit in there with all the speed," Walden said. "He's a young horse who hasn't raced a tremendous amount of times and we want to help his progress and build his résumé."