White Abarrio heads to the winner’s circle a Breeders’ Cup Classic victor (Jenny Doyle/Past The Wire)
NYRA Press Office
OZONE PARK, N.Y.— Trainer Rick Dutrow, Jr. expressed his confidence on Wednesday in C2 Racing and La Milagrosa Stable’s multiple Grade 1-winner White Abarrio, who will top the string of American-based horses heading to Saudi Arabia for the two-day Saudi Cup weekend slated for February 24-25 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh.
The 5-year-old son of Race Day has more than impressed his conditioner with his recent works at Santa Anita Park, where he has remained since his dominant victory in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic in November with Irad Ortiz, Jr. in the irons.
“He’s doing good, and better than ever,” said Dutrow, Jr. “He’s showing us all the signs that he’s completely on it again, and it’s not too much time now before he heads over to the desert. We’re extremely excited about what could be here.”
White Abarrio, who is slated to ship to Saudi Arabia on February 13, aims for his third consecutive Grade/Group 1 score after taking the Breeders’ Cup Classic and the Whitney three months prior at Saratoga Race Course. A victory or top finish in the $20 million test for older horses traveling 1,800 meters [about nine furlongs] would make White Abarrio the highest earning trainee in Dutrow, Jr.’s career, which also includes 2005 Horse of the Year Saint Liam and Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown, among others.
The veteran conditioner spoke volumes of White Abarrio’s intelligence and competitive spirit, and said the talented grey needs little guidance in his preparations.
“He’s so easy to train, man. I mean, he does it himself,” said Dutrow, Jr. “It’s more of just watching him train, and he’s fun to be around. He’s in such command of himself, and he thinks he’s the best thing that’s ever happened in this world. We love watching him do his thing. It’s not really the training that’s involved here, because he loves it and this is his game.”
White Abarrio began his career in Florida with conditioner Saffie Joseph, Jr., who saddled him to victories in the Grade 3 Holy Bull and Grade 1 Florida Derby ahead of an off-the-board finish in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby. He closed out his sophomore campaign with a game third-place effort in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile Handicap presented by NYRA Bets before making two more starts in Florida for Joseph, Jr. when eighth in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup and victorious in a March optional claiming tilt. He was then transferred to the care of Dutrow, Jr. in May, and finished third in the Grade 1 Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap in June en route to his Whitney and Breeders’ Cup triumphs.
Dutrow, Jr. said he believes White Abarrio has found his best stride thanks to a finely tuned racing and exercise schedule.
“When I picked him up, it was a three month break from the Florida [allowance win] to the Met Mile, and then another few months to the Whitney and a few months to the Breeders’ Cup. And now, a few months again to this one,” said Dutrow, Jr. “He excels with time, as most of them would.”
Dutrow, Jr. said White Abarrio’s raw talent, combined with the expertise from his brother and assistant, Chip, and exercise rider Emily Ellingwood, have made California the perfect place to prepare for the richest horse race in the world.
“There’s not a whole lot of instructions that go around this guy, and when you throw Irad up there, you never have to say a word,” Dutrow, Jr. said. “He’s so easy to be around and he’s a total racehorse. He gets in a zone to beat other horses, and we don’t have to do a whole lot of stuff with him. We’ve just got to keep Emily around him, keep my brother Chip around him, and when it’s game time, keep Irad around him. Then, we will just be the happiest people that ever lived.”
On the East Coast, Dutrow, Jr. recently enjoyed stakes success with P and G Stable’s Guanare, who captured the seven-furlong Spectacular Bid over muddy and sealed footing at Laurel Park on Saturday. The Runhappy sophomore tracked two lengths back under Romero Maragh in last-of-3 through the first quarter-mile before coming into contention in the turn. He took a one-length advantage at the stretch call with a three-wide trip before powering home a 2 3/4-length winner in a final time of 1:25.16. He was awarded an 84 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort.
“He’s another one that thinks he’s good, and we’re very happy with him,” said Dutrow, Jr. “He shipped out of town on a muddy track that we weren’t sure he was liking very much, but he got the job done. We’ve having fun with Guanare and I love the owners. They’re good people.”
The win marked the third consecutive for Guanare, who graduated at second asking in October sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs at Belmont at the Big A and followed with a dominant 6 3/4-length score in a local starter optional claimer going the same distance in November. The runner-up of the latter race, Iridescent, won a starter event next out ahead of a runner-up effort in the Jimmy Winkfield.
The next open-company sprint stakes for sophomores on the NYRA calendar is the seven-furlong Listed $175,000 Bay Shore on April 6, but Dutrow, Jr. said he has not yet selected the next target for Guanare.
“We’re very happy with him again. [Yesterday] was his first day back on the track and he looked like he was ready to run again. He’s already over the race for crying out loud,” Dutrow, Jr. said, with a laugh. “He carries so much energy. He’s won three in a row, so I’m glancing at what’s in store for him around town. We’re going to lay back and let him [tell us].”
Dutrow, Jr. and P and G Stable could have another strong prospect later this year in the impressive maiden winner El Capi, who was recently sidelined due to shin issues. The Maclean’s Music sophomore graduated on debut on December 2 here with a 9 1/2-length romp in wire-to-wire fashion over muddy and sealed footing. He earned a lofty 99 Beyer for the effort.
Dutrow, Jr. said El Capi is benefitting from his time away from the racetrack.
“We’re getting excellent reports on him, so we’ll get him fresh and ready to go,” said Dutrow, Jr. “I don’t know when yet, but Dr. [Larry] Bramlage will clear him when he’s ready and he’ll come back. We’re very excited to get that little fellow back. We love him. He blew us away in his first start, and we can’t wait to get him back the right way to see what he has in store for us.”
Dutrow, Jr. added he is also looking forward to the return of graded stakes-winner Petulante, who arrived in his barn this fall from previous trainer Victor Barboza. The 5-year-old Arrogate colt has worked five times at Belmont for Dutrow, Jr., most recently covering a half-mile in 48.90 seconds Tuesday.
“We’ve got our hands on him now and he’s doing very good,” said Dutrow, Jr. “He’s got potential and he’s a solid fellow. I know he’s better in his training now, so it’s just a matter of getting him back to the races to see how he’ll run.”
Petulante won the Grade 3 Salvator Mile in June at Monmouth Park on the heels of back-to-back optional claiming victories. He boasts a record of 6-4-2-0 with $236,555 in earnings.
