C2 Racing Stable's White Abarrio (Race Day), last-out winner of the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita Nov. 4, will be kept in training for a 5-year-old campaign in 2024, according to a post on X made Monday afternoon.
A $7,500 OBS January short yearling turned $40,000 OBS March breezer, the 2022 GI Florida Derby winner was originally trained by Saffie Joseph, Jr., but was turned over to trainer Richard Dutrow, Jr. this past summer. A longshot third, beaten 3 3/4 lengths behind Cody's Wish (Curlin) in the GI Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan H. June 10, the gray colt caused a 10-1 upset in the GI Whitney S. at Saratoga, scoring by 6 1/4 lengths. Dutrow, Jr. elected to train White Abarrio up to the Classic, arriving in California over a month ahead of the race, and the decision paid dividends when White Abarrio held off Derma Sotogake (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits) by a length as the 13-5 favorite.
Clint Cornett, the managing partner of C2 Racing, believes the best lies ahead for White Abarrio.
“We really think he is just coming into his own right now as a late 4-year-old and that he'll be even better at five,” he said. “He's sound, there are no issues whatsoever and so it makes sense to see what he can do on the racetrack.”
Cornett said that White Abarrio remains on the grounds at Santa Anita and would likely ship down to Gulfstream Park in mid-December. The GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational, a race in which White Abarrio was sixth at 6-1 last year, is a possible starting point for 2024, as is the $20-million G1 Saudi Cup. Cornett said that White Abarrio would train up to one or the other of those spots, but would not run in both.
Over the course of his three years at the track, White Abarrio has amassed a record of 7-1-3 from 15 starts for earnings of $4,946,350.
3X G1 Winner WHITE ABARRIO “The White Horse” to race in 2024 @ 5 YO. Let's have some fun!
Career Stats:
Starts: 15
Firsts: 7
Seconds: 1
Thirds: 3
Earnings: $4,946,350 pic.twitter.com/CKtnbF9Pw1— C2 Racing Stable (@C2RacingStable) November 27, 2023
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