Kentucky Derby: White Abarrio works sharp after Joseph audible

Kentucky Derby contender White Abarrio wowed trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. while breezing a half-mile between races during an impromptu workout on Saturday afternoon’s program at Gulfstream Park.

The Florida Derby (G1) winner covered the four-furlong distance in 48.23 seconds over a fast track between races 10 and 11 before galloping out six furlongs in 1:12.38 and seven furlongs in 1:25.15.

“Wow. That’s all I can say is ‘wow,’” Joseph said. “He worked super. He worked super.”

White Abarrio had been scheduled to breeze in the morning before heavy rains and a sloppy track prompted trainer Joseph to postpone the son of Race Day’s final workout for next Saturday’s Kentucky Derby.

Joseph initially decided to postpone the breeze until Sunday morning but called an audible later in the day after the rains subsided and the racetrack dried out under mostly sunny skies during the afternoon.

Exercise rider Vincente Gudiel was aboard for White Abarrio’s third workout at Gulfstream since his 1 1/4-length victory over Charge It in the April 2 Florida Derby. White Abarrio broke off at the 3/8 pole and posted fractions of 12.66 and 24.24 seconds on his way to his final clocking.

 “I’m so appreciate of Gulfstream Park for helping us out and all the track crew for a great job. I can’t thank them enough,” said Joseph, whose Derby candidate is scheduled to ship to Churchill Downs Sunday.

Joseph faced more serious challenges while preparing White Abarrio for his victories in the Feb. 5 Holy Bull (G3), before which he missed two workouts because of illness, and the Florida Derby, for which his final breeze was delayed three days because of a slight fever.

White Abarrio ranks third on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard with 122 qualifying points.

Owned by C2 Racing Stabe and Milagrosa Stable, White Abarrio was purchased by his current connections after debuting at Gulfstream Sept. 24 with a 6 3/4-length triumph. He went on to win an optional claiming allowance at Gulfstream by four lengths five weeks later. White Abarrio concluded his 2021 campaign with a third-place finish in the Nov. 27 Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs behind Smile Happy and Classic Causeway.

He made an auspicious 3-year-old debut at Gulfstream Feb. 5, capturing the Holy Bull (G3) by 4 1/2 lengths ahead of Simplification, who went on the win March 5 Fountain of Youth (G2) in White Abarrio’s absence. The Joseph trainee rallied from off the pace to defeat Charge It by 1 1/4 lengths in the Florida Derby.