White Abarrio Preps for Met Mile in Ghostzapper

White Abarrio  returns after winning the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) at Gulfstream Park in the $165,000 Ghostzapper Stakes (G3) there March 29. The four-time grade 1 winner, whose richest victory came in the 2023 Breeder's Cup Classic (G1) for then-trainer Rick Dutrow Jr., highlights a field of seven 4-year-olds and older in the 1 1/16-mile dirt race. 

White Abarrio has been rejuvenated since being reunited with trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. at Gulfstream. Joseph, who served as the 6-year-old's conditioner earlier in his career, has seen his once-again pupil post three top-two finishes in as many races. In addition to the Pegasus, which saw him take the lead as the field turned for home and win by more than six lengths, he also won an allowance optional claimer and was second by 1 1/4 lengths in the Dec. 28 Mr. Prospector Stakes (G3). 

The Pegasus came in sharp time, 1:48.05 for 1 1/8 miles, against some of the top horses in the country. Pegasus runner-up Locked  returned to win the Santa Anita Handicap (G1).

"When he gets a good trip, he's brilliant. You see some brilliant races from him," Joseph said. "I thought watching him win the Breeders' Cup Classic was one of his most brilliant races because they went so fast, and he was inside for a while, which he didn't like, and he still kept going.

"I thought his Pegasus—you're always biased because he's yours—as many times as I've watched it, was very impressive."

Irad Ortiz Jr. returns aboard the son of Race Day  for owners C2 Racing Stable, Gary Barber, and La Milagrosa Stable.

"The next main goal is the Met Mile. That's the important one," Joseph said of the one-mile Metropolitan Handicap (G1) on the Belmont Stakes (G1) undercard June 7 at Saratoga Race Course. "This race is at home. It makes sense from a timing standpoint."

Joseph's stable will also be represented in the Ghostzapper by One Sharp Cookie , who will make just his second graded appearance in 14 starts, and Argentine invader Super Corinto , eighth in the Dec. 21 Harlan's Holiday Stakes (G3) last time out. 

Todd Pletcher trainee Tuscan Sky  will look to return to the winner's circle for the first time since last June following a string of mostly subpar performances. 

Meanwhile, the filly Power Squeeze  is seeking a measure of revenge against White Abarrio following an eighth-place finish in the Pegasus. It will depend on which version shows up Saturday: the one who was a nonfactor in the Pegasus or the one who captured five stakes last year. Her top achievement of 2024 came when she won the Alabama Stakes (G1) over Candied  at Saratoga during a summer period when Thorpedo Anna  ran second against males in the Travers Stakes (G1).