Soul of an Angel just misses in the Molly Pitcher (Melissa Torres/EQUI-PHOTO)
White Abarrio Being Freshened
NYRA Press Office
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.— Trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. returned to Saratoga Race Course last night from a trip to the Jersey Shore where he sent out C2 Racing Stable and Agave Racing Stable’s Soul of an Angel to a close second in the Grade 3 Molly Pitcher at Monmouth Park.
Soul of Angel was last seen finishing fifth to Randomized in the June 8 Grade 1, $500,000 Ogden Phipps presented by Ford here at Saratoga. Prior to that start, the 5-year-old Atreides mare won the Grade 2 Ruffian on May 4 at Belmont at the Big A.
In the Molly Pitcher, Soul of Angel lined up against reigning Champion Older Dirt Female Idiomatic for dual Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox and Juddmonte Farms. Setting mild fractions on the front end, Idiomatic walked the field through a 25.57 second opening quarter and a 50.27 half. Soul of an Angel, piloted by Irad Ortiz Jr., ranged up alongside Idiomatic and Florent Geroux at the three-quarter pole and stuck a head in front. A thrilling stretch battle ensued, and ultimately ended with Idiomatic prevailing by a short head.
“She ran big. She ran a winning race, just met a champion. It was a great horse race. I gained more respect for her than anything. I feel overjoyed that she could put up that kind of performance,” said Joseph, Jr.
Soul of an Angel may have a potential date with her returning rivals from the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps later in the Saratoga meet in the Grade 1, $500,000 Personal Ensign contested at 1 1/8 miles for older fillies and mares on August 23.
Joseph also spoke about the return of his 2022 Grade 1 Florida Derby winner, White Abarrio. The 5-year-old son of Race Day started his career in the care of trainer Carlos Perez before the colt was privately purchased and transferred to Joseph, Jr.’s barn. He made 11 starts for Joseph, Jr., winning four of them including scores in the Grade 3 Holy Bull, the Grade 1 Florida Derby and a pair of allowance optional claiming races, all at Gulfstream Park.
Prior to White Abarrio’s third-place effort in last year’s Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park, he was transferred to conditioner Rick Dutrow, Jr. White Abarrio remained in the Dutrow, Jr. barn for the remainder of the year, and won the Grade 1 Whitney here at Saratoga before annexing the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park.
This year, White Abarrio traveled to try his hand at the Group 1 Saudi Cup in Saudi Arabia and finished a non-threatening 10th. He returned stateside for a try in the Grade 1, $1-million Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap on June 8 and finished fifth to fellow Saudi Cup participant National Treasure.
Following that effort, the grey was transferred back to Joseph, Jr., who was very happy and grateful to have the horse in his care again.
“Glad to get him back into our barn. I am thankful to the owners who sent him back. It meant a lot,” Joseph, Jr. said. “We felt appreciation in that aspect.”
White Abarrio was not in the barn long before getting kicked out to the farm for a little break.
“He is going to stay there a couple of weeks. He will probably start back breezing here around the end of the meet,” Joseph, Jr. said.
Joseph, Jr. said nothing is wrong physically with the horse, but felt it would be best for the horse to get a break from training to help him return to peak form.
The circled target for White Abarrio is the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup held in January at Gulfstream Park, which also happens to be Joseph, Jr.’s home base.
“The Pegasus is kind of the long-term goal. He will run before that, we just don’t know where yet,” Joseph, Jr. said. “Hopefully he will get back to his top form. He is a world class horse.”
