Thursday works: White Abarrio drills ahead of Mr. Prospector

White Abarrio breezed five furlongs in 1:00.35 Thursday at Gulfstream Park in preparation for a planned start in the Grade 3, $150,000 Mr. Prospector on Dec. 27 as a steppingstone to the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) on Jan. 24.

The workout marked the second for the multiple Grade 1 stakes winner since his vet scratch from the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Santa Anita on Nov. 1.

"Today was his work for the vet's list. He had to work five-eighths. He worked five-eighths. He came back well. He jogged off sound," trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. "They pulled his blood and we have to wait for the blood to come back to be cleared. So that was a big hurdle today that he had to get through."

The 6-year-old son of Race Day went to the racetrack shortly after 9 a.m. EST following the renovation break to work in company. With Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard, White Abarrio worked outside an unraced 2-year-old Munnings colt before finishing a few lengths clear at the wire and galloping out six furlongs. His workmate recorded a half-mile in 47.66 seconds, the fastest of 11 at the distance.

"Ideally, we didn't want to go five-eighths today, but California requires you to go five-eighths. If I wasn't training him to get off the vets list, he wouldn't have gone five-eighths. He probably would have worked three-eighths," said Joseph, who worked White Abarrio an easy three furlongs on Nov. 23.

"We didn't want to take the chance to wait until next week to work him five-eighths, because we have to wait for information on the blood to come back. With the holidays, the blood might not come back (in time). So, our schedule was kind of forced to work five-eighths, because that's the requirement. We got through that hurdle, so we're trying to go forward from here now."

White Abarrio, owned by C2 Racing Stable, Gary Barber and La Milagrosa Stable, finished a late-closing second in last season's seven-furlong Mr. Prospector prior to his 6 1/4-length victory in the 1 1/8-mile Pegasus World Cup Invitational.

White Abarrio, who has earned $7.1 million in purses, most recently competed in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Saratoga on Aug. 31. He finished fifth after contact with a rival nearly unseated Ortiz and was placed fourth.

In addition to his Pegasus World Cup victory, White Abarrio has given Joseph three other career-boosting Grade 1 wins in the 2022 Florida Derby at Gulfstream, the 2023 Whitney at Saratoga and the 2023 Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita.

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

White Abarrio (Race Day), a four-time Grade 1 winner, worked five furlongs in 1:00.3 at Gulfstream Park on Thursday morning. It was the fastest of three works at the distance. His previous work was 18 days ago going three furlongs at Gulfstream Park. 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.

La Cara (Street Sense), a two-time Grade 1 winner (2025 Acorn, 2025 Ashland), worked four furlongs in 50.8 seconds at Oaklawn on Thursday morning. It was the 41st fastest of 51 works at the distance. This was her first work since her last race. In her last start, she placed fifth in the Cotillion (G1) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Parx on Sept. 20 for trainer Mark Casse.

None Above the Law (Karakontie), a Grade 2 winner (2021 Del Mar Derby), worked three furlongs in 37.4 seconds at San Luis Rey on Thursday morning. It was the slower of two works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start, he placed sixth in the Richard Hazelton Overnight going 1 3/8 miles on the turf at Turf Paradise on May 3 for trainer Peter Miller.

Scythian (Tiz the Law), a Grade 2 winner (2024 Miss Grillo), worked four furlongs in 49.8 seconds at Payson Park on Thursday morning. It was the fourth fastest of 13 works at the distance. This was her first work since her last race. In her last start, she placed fourth in the Jockey Club Oaks (G3) going 1 3/8 miles on the turf at Aqueduct on Nov. 15 for trainer Bill Mott.

Heroic Move (Quality Road), a Grade 3 winner (2024 Steve Sexton Mile), worked four furlongs in 48.3 seconds at Remington Park on Thursday morning. It was the fastest of 17 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start, he won the Zia Park Championship going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Zia Park on Nov. 25 for trainer Robertino Diodoro.

Will Then (War of Will), a Grade 3 winner (2024 Jimmy Durante), worked five furlongs in 59.0 seconds at Santa Anita on Thursday morning. It was the second fastest of 19 works at the distance. This was her first work since her last race. In her last start, she placed fifth in the Red Carpet (G3) going 1 3/8 miles on the turf at Del Mar on Nov. 23 for trainer Jonathan Thomas.