White Abarrio Pointed to Pegasus After Cigar Mile Third
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Photo: Skip Dickstein
White Abarrio pauses alongside another horse during morning training hours this spring at Churchill Downs
White Abarrio , third in the Dec. 3 Cigar Mile Handicap Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) at Aqueduct Racetrack, will target the $3 million, 1 1/8-mile Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational (G1) Jan. 28 at Gulfstream Park, trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said.
The 3-year-old son of Race Day was beaten a half-length in the Cigar Mile with a ground-saving trip after battling to the inside of Mind Control and Get Her Number in the stretch. The race, his first around one turn since last October, registered a career-best 109 Equibase Speed Figure and was his most competitive performance since June when he ran second in the Ohio Derby (G3). He entered the Cigar Mile off a fifth in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1).
"I was very, very thankful to see him run back to his top form. I thought the Pennsylvania Derby was a sneaky good race," Joseph said. "This race, he ran top numbers and was beaten by a good horse in Mind Control. At the top of the stretch, I thought we had a chance to kick on, but we hit a flat spot, and horses like Mind Control are hard to get by. Overall, it was a good run, and we were pleased with the effort."
White Abarrio won both the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) and Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa (G1) at Gulfstream Park earlier this year.