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| Staff Writer |
Joseph-trained star delivers masterclass at Gulfstream
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White Abarrio delivered a spectacular performance to claim the US$2,945,400 Gr.1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park, powering clear by 6¼ lengths. The 6YO son of Race Day clocked an impressive 1:48.05 for the nine-furlong contest, marking the fastest Pegasus since Knicks Go's 1:47.89 in 2021.
The victory, his fourth at the highest level, showcased the remarkable versatility of a horse who has now accumulated earnings exceeding US$6.8 million. His previous Gr.1 successes came in the 2023 Breeders' Cup Classic, the Whitney Stakes at Saratoga, and the 2022 Florida Derby at Gulfstream.
Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr, White Abarrio demonstrated his affinity for Gulfstream Park, securing his seventh victory from nine starts at the venue. Racing in fifth under Irad Ortiz Jr, the grey tracked early leader Saudi Crown through fractions of 23.43, 46.68, and 1:10.79 before launching his decisive move around the second turn.
Unlike his previous start in the Gr.3 Mr. Prospector Stakes, where a sluggish break compromised his chances, White Abarrio broke sharply and secured an ideal position. "By the time I asked him, he really took off. He was home," said Ortiz Jr, who secured his third Pegasus victory following previous successes with Life Is Good (2022) and Mucho Gusto (2020).
The favourite Locked, trained by Todd Pletcher, overcame significant adversity to claim second place. Breaking from the challenging post 10, the last-out Cigar Mile winner found himself turned sideways at the start, compromising his early position. "Unfortunately, from that post you can't make any mistakes, and missing the break was really the one mistake you didn't want to make," noted Pletcher, who despite the setback felt his charge ran "probably the best race of his life."
Joseph's other runner Skippylongstocking finished a neck back in third, demonstrating the trainer's strong hand in the race. Mixto, representing the Santa Anita-based Doug O'Neill stable, claimed fourth place, while early pacesetter Saudi Crown faded to fifth after setting honest fractions.
Steal Sunshine and Crupi filled sixth and seventh positions respectively, followed by Power Squeeze in eighth. Last year's Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan disappointed in ninth, failing to reproduce his Churchill Downs form after tracking the pace in third before retreating on the second turn. Santa Anita Derby winner Stronghold, trained by Phil D'Amato, and Newgrange completed the eleven-runner field.
The Pegasus World Cup, inaugurated in 2017, has established itself as one of North America's premier dirt contests. With a purse of US$2,945,400, it ranks among the most valuable races outside the Breeders' Cup schedule. The event has attracted elite performers throughout its history, with previous winners including Arrogate, Gun Runner, City of Light, and Knicks Go.
The victory marked a poignant moment for Joseph, who regained training duties last June following a period with Richard Dutrow Jr. The trainer change occurred during spring 2023 due to eligibility concerns in Kentucky and New York, following the mysterious deaths of two Joseph-trained horses during Kentucky Derby week at Churchill Downs.
Though cleared of any rule violations after a thorough investigation, White Abarrio remained with Dutrow for his Whitney and Breeders' Cup Classic triumphs. However, after disappointing runs in the Saudi Cup and Metropolitan Handicap, owners C 2 Racing Stable, Prince Faisal bin Khaled bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, and Antonio Pagnano opted to return the horse to Joseph's Florida base.
"This horse has taken us on an unbelievable ride," reflected Clint Cornett of C 2 Racing Stable. "I called Mark in 2021 and said, let's jump back in this game. I had no idea it would be this good. This is a once-in-a-lifetime horse right here."
The day proved particularly memorable for Joseph, who also captured the Gr.2 Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf Invitational with Be Your Best and the Gr.2 Inside Information Stakes with Mystic Lake, completing a remarkable treble.
In the US$1 million Gr.1 Pegasus World Cup Turf , Spirit of St. Louis provided trainer Chad Brown with a notable victory, edging out Integration by a neck in a time of 1:44.50. Southern California raiders Mi Hermano Ramon (fourth), Balnikov (tenth), and Formidable Man (twelfth) failed to make an impact in the twelve-runner field.
The Gr.2 William L. McKnight Stakes saw a disappointing run from Rockemperor, who finished eleventh of twelve, while Mucho Del Oro, a ten-time winner from twenty starts, was sixth in the Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint after encountering early trouble.
Bred by Spendthrift Farm out of the Into Mischief mare Catching Diamonds, White Abarrio stands as the leading progeny of his sire Race Day, a son of the influential Tapit. His dam is a half-sister to Group Three winner Cool Cowboy, and her only unraced foal is a 2YO filly by Yaupon.
"You should be proud. You did a great job, Saffie," Ortiz told an emotional Joseph in the winner's enclosure, following a performance that firmly established White Abarrio's position at the pinnacle of American dirt racing. The win marked the latest chapter in an extraordinary career that has seen the grey overcome various challenges to emerge as one of the most accomplished performers of his generation.