Thursday tab: White Abarrio has final breeze ahead of Pegasus

Three-time Grade 1 winner White Abarrio put in his final breeze Thursday morning for the Grade 1, $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational on Jan. 25 at Gulfstream Park.

In company with regular workmate Silver Moonlight, White Abarrio went four furlongs in 48.34 seconds over Gulfstream’s main track, ranking eighth of 27 horses. It was his second work of 2025 following a bullet half-mile move in 47.81 seconds on Jan. 9.

“He worked well,” trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. “I thought it was a very good work. He did a lot last week so we kept him in hand this time, just a little off the horse inside and he finished up well. We never really let him out today. We were very happy with it.”

Silver Moonlight is a 4-year-old Liam’s Map filly who has strung together three consecutive wins starting with a maiden triumph Oct. 20 and a Dec. 27 starter allowance in her most recent start.

“He’s been working Silver Moonlight since before he came back for his allowance race,” Joseph said. “He’s done well doing it and she’s won three in a row doing it, so we’re just keeping things the same. It’s perfect.”

White Abarrio has won six of eight lifetime starts at Gulfstream, including the Holy Bull (G3) and Florida Derby (G1) in 2022. He spent the summer and fall of 2023 with trainer Rick Dutrow, winning the Whitney (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Classic, then returned to Joseph after running fifth in the Met Mile (G1) last June.

Making his first start in 168 days, White Abarrio romped by 10 1/4 lengths in a seven-furlong optional claiming allowance Nov. 22 at Gulfstream to set him up for the Dec. 28 Mr. Prospector (G3). Also at seven furlongs, he got off slowly and raced far back before making a dramatic late run to come up 1 1/4 lengths short of multiple graded-stakes winner Mufasa.

“We’re nine days out and in horse racing that’s a lot of time, but we’re quite happy,” Joseph said. “Hopefully we can win a Pegasus.”

Joseph’s other Pegasus candidate, multimillionaire Skippylongstocking, is scheduled to put in his final work Friday morning at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream’s satellite training facility in Palm Beach County.

White Abarrio was one of six graded-stakes winners with published works Thursday.

White Abarrio (Race Day), a three-time Grade 1 winner (2023 Breeders' Cup Classic, 2023 Whitney, 2022 Florida Derby), worked four furlongs in 48.3 seconds at Gulfstream Park on Thursday morning. It was the eighth fastest of 27 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Gulfstream Park. In his last start, he placed second in the Mr. Prospector (G3) going seven furlongs on the main track at Gulfstream Park on Dec. 28 for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.

Get Her Number (Dialed In), a Grade 1 winner (2020 American Pharoah), worked four furlongs in 49.2 seconds at San Luis Rey on Thursday morning. It was the fastest of four works at the distance. His previous work was five days ago going four furlongs at San Luis Rey. In his last start, he placed 10th in the Mint Millions (G3) going one mile on the turf at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 2 for trainer Peter Miller.

Nakatomi (Firing Line), a Grade 1 winner (2024 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap), worked four furlongs in 49.4 seconds at Payson Park on Thursday morning. It was the faster of two works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start, he placed sixth in the Breeders' Cup Sprint going six furlongs on the main track at Del Mar on Nov. 2 for trainer Wesley Ward.

Speed Boat Beach (Bayern), a Grade 1 winner (2023 Malibu), worked three furlongs in 36.4 seconds at Santa Anita on Thursday morning. It was the fastest of four works at the distance. His previous work was 117 days ago going six furlongs at Santa Anita. In his last start, he won the Malibu (G1) going seven furlongs on the main track at Santa Anita on Dec. 26 for trainer Bob Baffert.

Packs a Wahlop (Creative Cause), a two-time Grade 3 winner (2022 Zuma Beach, 2022 Del Mar Juvenile Turf), worked four furlongs in 49.0 seconds at Santa Anita on Thursday morning. It was the third fastest of 16 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start, he placed second in an allowance race going 1 1/8 miles on the turf at Santa Anita on Dec. 28 for trainer Jeff Mullins.

Tide of the Sea (English Channel), a Grade 3 winner (2021 W. L. McKnight), worked five furlongs in 1:03.0 at Fair Grounds on Thursday morning. It was the slowest of seven works at the distance. His previous work was 11 days ago going five furlongs at Fair Grounds. In his last start, he placed 10th in an allowance race going 1 1/8 miles on the turf at Aqueduct on Nov. 17 for trainer Joe Sharp.