White Abarrio Out of Carter After Temperature, Cough

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said that multiple graded stakes-winning millionaire White Abarrio  spiked a temperature after shipping up to New York from Florida and will scratch from the April 8 Carter Handicap (G1) at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Last year's Florida Derby (G1) winner for owners C2 Racing Stable and Antonio Pagnano arrived in New York April 4 from his home base at Gulfstream Park.

"He had a little temperature Tuesday and we treated him that night. He seemed to be OK when we entered him (April 5), but this morning he coughed a couple times and that was the last straw for us," Joseph said. "It's disappointing to miss a chance at a grade 1, but that's how it goes."

Joseph said the colt will, "all being well," stay in New York for training and target the May 5 Westchester Stakes (G3), a one-turn mile at Belmont Park for older horses.

All being well, he'll stay there and train and point for the Westchester."

Joseph said his two contenders for Saturday's Wood Memorial Stakes (G2)—Lord Miles  and Knox —are in good order.

White Abarrio captured the Florida Derby at Gulfstream in April en route to finishing 16th in the 2022 Kentucky Derby (G1). He completed a productive 2-1-1 sophomore campaign from seven starts in December with a third-place finish in the Cigar Mile Handicap (G1).

The 4-year-old Race Day  colt, a five-time winner at Gulfstream, made his seasonal debut with an eighth-place effort in the 1 1/8-mile Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1), before the conditioner decided to focus the gray on one-turn tests beginning with a sharp optional claiming win sprinting seven furlongs on March 4 at Gulfstream.

On the strength of that win and his accomplishments last year, he had been pegged as the 2-1 second choice on the morning line for Saturday's Carter. Repo Rocks , listed at 9-5 odds, now figures to be a more pronounced favorite.

White Abarrio's long-term goal is the June 10 Metropolitan Handicap (G1) at Belmont Park.