White Abarrio, the multiple Grade I winner, showcased his exceptional talent in the seventh race at Gulfstream Park. As the 1-5 favorite, he lived up to the expectations with a remarkable performance. After breaking slowly and settling behind a line of eager horses in third, he began to make his move. The grey tracked an opening pace of :22.77, :45.98, and 1:11.43 from three off the rail. When he launched a rally at the quarter pole and took command, it was a thrilling sight. 21-1 longshot Flying Liam tried to mount a challenge, but in the end, White Abarrio won going away by 10 1/4 lengths. Flying Liam held on to second, with 8 1/4 lengths back to third-place finisher Vladislav.

From Struggles to Triumph

White Abarrio had an eventful journey. He was moved from Saffie Joseph Jr. to Richard Dutrow Jr. in the middle of last summer. Before that, he finished third in the GI Met Mile, won the GI Whitney Stakes, and the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic. However, in 2024, he made only two starts and missed the board in both. He ran 10th in the G1 Saudi Cup and then finished fifth in the GI Met Mile this season. After that effort, he was returned to Joseph Jr.’s barn for an extended layoff to freshen up. His comeback was a significant event, and it played well into Joseph’s plans.

The Next Target

The next target for White Abarrio is the GIII Harlan’s Holiday Stakes, which is the local prep for the GI Pegasus World Cup. He finished eighth in the 2023 running of the latter. Joseph believes that White Abarrio does well with spacing and that they will decide where he heads next. The Harlan’s Holiday is the next step, and they will ensure that he comes back well before making any further decisions.

The Extended Family

White Abarrio is his dam’s first runner to the races and by far her most accomplished. He has a winning 4-year-old half-brother named Cage Match and an unplaced 3-year-old half-sibling Diamond Lord. This year, Diamond Lord’s 2-year-old full-brother Diamond Dealer was exported to the UAE. Catching Diamonds has produced a yearling filly by Yaupon and went to Taiba for 2025. This is the extended family of GSW & GISP Mutasaabeq.White Abarrio’s performance in the seventh race at Gulfstream Park was a testament to his talent and determination. His comeback has set the stage for his next adventures, and fans are eagerly awaiting his next move. With his impressive record and the support of his connections, he is sure to make more headlines in the future.