White Abarrio Back in Stakes Company for Mr. Prospector

Following an impressive 10 1/4-length allowance romp in his return to the races, 2023 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner White Abarrio  jumps back into graded company as he faces 11 rivals in the $165,000 Mr. Prospector Stakes (G3) Dec. 28 at Gulfstream Park.

The runaway victory Nov. 22 at the same course and seven-furlong distance he'll face Saturday followed a 5 1/2-month layoff since a soundly beaten fifth in the June 8 Metropolitan Handicap (G1). It also was his first start back in the Florida-based barn of his original trainer, Saffie Joseph Jr., who conditioned the horse for 11 of his first 12 starts that included a victory in the 2022 Florida Derby (G1) before Richard Dutrow took over training in a five-race stretch that included his Breeders' Cup Classic score. 

A return to the Florida sun was just what the doctor ordered for the 5-year-old son of Race Day  as he improved his record at Gulfstream to 6-for-7. It was White Abarrio's first race since running fifth in the Metropolitan Handicap (G1) in June at Saratoga Race Course.

"He handled it well. There was a lot of pressure on him going in and we were happy to see him bounce back," Joseph said. "It seemed that his performance was up to his previous good ones, so hopefully he'll come back in this race and do the same."

Joseph was pleased with the dominant performance.

"We didn't want him to come back and get through it barely winning. Coming back in an allowance, he needed to come back with a performance that I felt like was near his best," Joseph said. "We thought he got something out of it."

Despite being known for his success at longer routes, White Abarrio holds a perfect 2-for-2 record over seven furlongs; both of those races were contested at Gulfstream.

Owned by C 2 Racing Stable, Prince Faisal bin Khaled bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, and Antonio Pagnano, White Abarrio has won eight of 18 starts for earnings of $5,213,350.

As for Saturday, one of his principal rivals comes in the form of Carlos Saavedra and Stud Vendaval's Mufasa , who exits a disappointing run in the Nov. 2 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1).

"Things did not go his way the last race and that was it for him," trainer Ignacio Correas IV said. "He came out of the race well, and this is a good race to start him back."

Prior to that 11th-place finish around two turns at Del Mar, the Chilean group 3 winner introduced himself to American audiences with a pair of open-length victories over seven furlongs. The latter of the two came Sept. 28 at Aqueduct Racetrack when he won the Vosburgh Stakes (G3) on a sloppy track by 4 1/4 lengths.

"He was very impressive. He won very easy that day," Correas said.

Mufasa makes his fifth start in the United States at a fifth different track. He holds a perfect 4-for-4 record at the distance.

Lea Farms' Super Chow  is aiming to end the year the way he began it, rattling off three grade 3 wins in a four-race span at Aqueduct and Pimlico Race Course. However, he's failed to hit the board in his last three starts, finishing fourth in each.

Like White Abarrio, the 4-year-old son of Lord Nelson has shown an affinity for Gulfstream, hitting the board in all six starts and visiting the winner's circle three times.

Half the field has won multiple starts at the Hallandale Beach, Fla., track, with the second-most victories belonging to Bianco Stable's Caramel Chip , who exits a third in the Nov. 16 Claiming Crown at Churchill Downs for trainer Carlos David. The 6-year-old son of Midshipman   has won five of 20 starts at Gulfstream, hitting the board eight times.

Stakes winner Shaq Diesel  has won four times at Gulfstream, Real Macho  three times, and Mr Skylight  twice.

Joseph Imbesi's Pennsylvania homebred Gordian Knot , a five-time stakes winner and grade 3-placed in his home state, makes his first start for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher.