Wiping tears from his eyes, Saffie Joseph, Jr. was one happy trainer after watching White Abarrio sweep into the lead and roll to victory in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) on Saturday at Gulfstream Park.
“No matter what you go through you have your faith, everything for a reason,’’ an emotional Joseph said after his 6-year-old striking gray horse pulled away from 10 rivals and won by 6 ¼ lengths.
Locked, the 9-5 favorite, got off a step slow but rallied for second in the field of 11, with Joseph’s other entry Skippylongstocking finishing third.
“All credit to the horse,’’ Joseph said. “In the paddock, he just showed everything like he wanted to do it for us. I’m grateful to White Abarrio.”
For White Abarrio and Joseph, it’s been a roller-coaster few years. Joseph trained White Abarrio to victories in the 2022 Holy Bull Stakes (G3) and the Florida Derby G1) before a 16th place finish in the Kentucky Derby (G1).
White Abarrio RUNS AWAY with a dominant Pegasus World Cup victory! pic.twitter.com/83WAnkoUXD
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) January 25, 2025
By the first part of 2023, White Abarrio was sent to Rick Dutrow, Jr., who had come off a 10-year suspension for numerous rules violations. Not only did the horse win the 2023 Whitney Stakes (G1), but he also won the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) to cap the year.
With Saudi ownership in the mix, White Abarrio was sent to the 2024 Saudi Cup (G1), where he was 10th. After he ran fifth in the Met Mile (G1) at Saratoga, he was sent back to Joseph in Florida.
He won an optional claimer, then rallied for second in Gulfstream’s 7-furlong Mr. Prospector (G3), setting him up for another overpowering victory in a big-money race.
“When he got back to Florida, he wasn’t mentally there, so it took him a while to get back,’’ Joseph said. “He needed to break [well]. He didn't break the last couple times, and the break was going to be important. And he was able to get his dream trip. Once he gets into the clear, that's when he really runs normally, his best race. Everything aligned today, and all glory to God. I'm just thankful to experience this.”
Irad Ortiz, Jr., who has been aboard White Abarrio since the Whitney, won the World Cup for the third time.
“This horse wants to win so bad. I knew we wanted to be close, but definitely the horse helps when he breaks like that, he makes everything easier,’’ Ortiz said. “I was very focused on my horse at the break. Then I was watching the Saudi Crown, I didn’t want to be too far from him.
“But I never had to ask him, he was doing it by himself, he was improving his position without me asking. By the time I asked him, he really took off. He was home; I looked at the TV and I could see, he was home.”
Saudi Crown set the pace with Stronghold and 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mystik Dan following suit through the first three-quarters of a mile. But White Abarrio loomed in fourth, was moved four wide around the far turn, and took charge straightening for home
And that was that. White Abarrio ($7.60) earned $1,638,000 for owners C2 Racing Stable, Prince Faisal bin Khaled bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud and Antonio Pagano, boosting his career earnings to $6.87 million and improved to 20-9-2-3.
Winning time for the 1 1/8 miles was 1:48.05 over a fast track.
Mixto was fourth, followed by Saudi Crown, Steal Sunshine, Crupi, Power Squeeze, Mystik Dan, Stronghold, and Newgrange.
For those who bet on horse racing, usracing.com picked White Abarrio to win.
Earlier on Pegasus World Cup Day, 7-1 shot Spirit of St. Louis ($17.80) rallied for a neck victory over Integration in the $1 million World Cup Turf (G1), with 5-2 favorite Nations Pride, bumped at the start, ninth of 12.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
