Thursday tab: White Abarrio leads 5 graded-stakes winners

White Abarrio began preparations for a planned start in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile with an easy breeze Thursday at Gulfstream Park.

The 6-year-old son of Race Day stretched his legs during a three-furlong breeze in 33.73 seconds, fastest of four at the distance, while working for the first time since finishing fourth in the Aug. 31 Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga.

The Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained multiple Grade 1 stakes winner, who began his 2025 campaign with victories in the Pegasus World Cup (G1) and Ghostzapper (G3) at Gulfstream, is coming off a trio of fourth-place finishes in the Met Mile (G1), Whitney (G1) and Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga.

White Abarrio won the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Santa Anita in 2023. The plan this year is to bypass the Classic in favor of the Dirt Mile at Del Mar Nov. 1.

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

White Abarrio (Race Day), a four-time Grade 1 winner, worked three furlongs in 33.7 seconds at Gulfstream Park on Thursday morning. It was the fastest of four works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he placed fourth in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) going 1 1/4 miles on the main track at Saratoga on Aug. 31 for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.

Banishing (Ghostzapper), a Grade 2 winner (2025 Charles Town Classic), worked three furlongs in 39.0 seconds at Churchill Training on Thursday morning. It was the third fastest of four works at the distance. His previous work was four days ago going four furlongs at Churchill Training. In his last start he won the Charles Town Classic (G2) going 1 1/8 miles on the main track at Charles Town on Aug. 22 for trainer David Jacobson.

Background (Khozan), a Grade 3 winner (2021 Longacres Mile Handicap), worked four furlongs in 51.0 seconds at Turfway Park on Thursday morning. It was the 21st fastest of 29 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he placed sixth in a claiming race going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Churchill Downs on Sept. 14 for trainer Steve Asmussen.

Donegal Momentum (Uncle Mo), a Grade 3 winner (2025 Poker), worked four furlongs in 49.4 seconds at Belmont Park on Thursday morning. It was the second fastest of 12 works at the distance. His previous work was eight days ago going four furlongs at Belmont Park. In his last start he won the Bernard Baruch going 1 1/16 miles on the turf at Saratoga on Aug. 29 for trainer Tom Morley.

Mythical (St Patrick's Day), a Grade 3 winner (2025 Adirondack), worked four furlongs in 50.8 seconds at Monmouth Park on Thursday morning. It was the slower of two works at the distance. Her previous work was six days ago going four furlongs at Monmouth Park. In her last start she placed fifth in the Spinaway (G1) going seven furlongs on the main track at Saratoga on Aug. 30 for trainer Jorge Delgado.