White Abarrio wins again, this time by 5 1/4 in Ghostzapper
White Abarrio made a triumphant return Saturday from his victory in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) on Jan. 25 with a dominating, 5 1/4-length score in the Grade 3, $165,000 Ghostzapper Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
“He’s in a different league right now,” trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. “He did it as easy as he can.”
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White Abarrio, who captured the 2022 Florida Derby (G1), was ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. as a 1-20 favorite in Saturday’s 1 1/16-mile stakes for 4-year-olds and up.
Owned by C2 Racing Stable, Gary Barber and La Milagrosa Stable, the 6-year-old son of Race Day broke cleanly from the starting gate to stalk stablemate One Sharp Cookie, who completed the first quarter-mile in 22.82 seconds before his celebrated stablemate took over while getting the first half-mile in 45.98 seconds. White Abarrio was joined by 2024 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) winner Power Squeeze to his outside in the second turn.
Spinning into the homestretch, Ortiz asked White Abarrio, and the flashy, gray, multiple Grade 1 winner responded instantly. He drew away to a comfortable victory with minimal urging.
“Beautiful. He broke good again, and when he breaks like that, he makes things easier,” Ortiz said. “I didn’t do too much. I just let him be him, and that was it. I let him be him every step of the way.”
Power Squeeze finished second, Tuscan Sky third, Lightning Tones fourth, The Thor fifth and One Sharp Cookie last of six. Super Corinto was scratched.
White Abarrio returned $2.10, $2.10 and $2.10. Power Squeeze paid $4.80 and $3.60. Tuscan Sky paid $2.60 to show.
Joseph was impressed with White Abarrio’s 1:41.97 performance for the 1 1/16 miles on the fast albeit rain-affected main track.
“At the quarter pole, obviously, I knew they were going quick, and I was looking to see if the race was going to fall apart,” he said. “He’s just in a different league right now. Hopefully he stays healthy after this. We feel like he’s the best horse in the country.”
White Abarrio, who had captured the Pegasus by 6 1/4 lengths, is scheduled to run next in the Met Mile (G1) on June 7 at Saratoga.
“Perfect prep. You obviously want to make it as easy as possible, and you want to win. You don’t want to get beat. I though he won as easy as he could after going so quick early,” Joseph said. “I haven’t seen (anyone) go under 1:42 in a long time on this track. I know they got a little moisture in it but not enough to make it that fast.”