Zipse: White Abarrio takes another swing in Breeders’ Cup

In his most recent race White Abarrio briefly carried two jockeys on his back.

The wild scene in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga was just one more example of the roller coaster of a career the near-white star has ridden since winning his career debut more than four years ago. And it’s not over yet.

The popular 6-year-old son of Race Day will get a chance to have yet another rise to the summit Nov. 1 when he tangles with a deep and talented field in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar.

To have complete faith that White Abarrio will come through against horses like Nysos, Full Serrano, Mystik Dan, Citizen Bull and Chancer McPatrick might be a a reach at this point in his career. On the other hand, counting him out would be equally rash.

Like a big-swinging baseball slugger, White Abarrio might not always connect, but when he does, the result can be magical. As it was nine months ago at Gulfstream Park where trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. saddled his prize 6-year-old in the Pegasus World Cup (G1).

Breeders’ Cup Classic-bound Locked was a red-hot favorite in the nine-furlong affair, but the race’s second choice came to run that day. Taking to his home track like greased lightning, the popular veteran blitzed the solid 11-horse field with a stunning display.

The 6 1/4-length romp over Locked at a final time of 1:48.05 was the fastest Pegasus since Knicks Go in 2021. For White Abarrio, the season has had more downs than ups since that tour-de-force victory in one of America’s richest races.

Owned by C2 Racing Stable, Gary Barber and La Milagrosa Stable, White Abarrio began his career as a Thoroughbred racehorse in unheralded fashion.

Bred by Spendthrift Farm and out of Into Mischief mare Catching Diamonds, he was less than a hot commodity in the sales ring. Originally sold for $7,500 as a January yearling, that price rose to $40,000 the following year as a 2-year-old in training.

When he made it to the races, he did so for trainer Carlos Pérez as a 12-1 afterthought in a field of 11 at Gulfstream Park. Some 6 1/2 furlongs later, White Abarrio pranced to the winner’s circle as a colt to watch.

Since that romping maiden win in his career debut and a private purchase soon after, White Abarrio twice has found his way into the barn of Joseph, where he has found a mixed bag of highlights and disappointments.

A sharp victory in the Florida Derby (G1) was his first of four victories at the highest level. Five weeks later he found himself wide, wider and widest during a forgettable run in Rich Strike’s shocking victory in the 2022 Kentucky Derby.

His story could have ended quietly there as is true of so many horses after finishing nowhere on the first Saturday in May, but White Abarrio has persevered.

There were a few promising performances along the way, but he appeared to be going nowhere fast when his owners decided on a trainer switch after eligibility concerns arose for Joseph in Kentucky and New York.

The move to the barn of Rick Dutrow caught lightning in a bottle and led to impressive back-to-back wins in the Whitney Stakes (G1) at Saratoga and the 2023 Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita to close his highly successful 4-year-old season.

A disappointing result in his trip overseas for the 2024 Saudi Cup (G1) was followed by a defeat in Saratoga’s Met Mile (G1) at Saratoga. White Abarrio's time with Dutrow was over.

Returning to Joseph and the friendly surroundings of Gulfstream Park worked wonders for him, and his racing career once again turned around. A run of four solid races in South Florida highlighted by his victory in the Pegasus World Cup put White Abarrio back on the map.

There have been struggles since, and a lack of racing luck has played a part as well. Now the accomplished veteran on a three-race losing stream will return for a second run in the Breeders’ Cup.

Fourth each time in the Met Mile, Whitney and Jockey Club Gold Cup, White Abarrio has not exactly run poorly, but things just did not go his way in any of the three races at Saratoga.

Given some space between starts and working up a storm back at Gulfstream Park, it may be premature to give up on the horse who has won 10 times in 24 career starts with earnings of $7,151,920. He has earned the right to never be counted out.

In a career of the highest of the highs and opposing valleys, White Abarrio is still here. That could mean big trouble for the rest of the field in the upcoming Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.