HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – C2 Racing Stable LLC and La Milagrosa Stable LLC’s White Abarrio returned to the Gulfstream Park worktab Sunday morning for the first time since capturing the Feb. 5 Holy Bull (G3) by a dominating 4 ½ lengths.
The 3-year-old son of Race Day’s three-furlong breeze in 36.22 seconds was the first in a scheduled series of works leading up to the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream April 2.
“We gave him three weeks and he came back at three-eighths. He worked well, very easy. His last quarter was 23-and-change. We’re happy with him overall. He came out of that race as good as you could ask, health-wise, condition-wise and attitude-wise,” Joseph said.
White Abarrio, who finished third behind Smile Happy and Classic Causeway in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill in his juvenile finale, will sit out Saturday’s Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth (G2) and be trained up to the Florida Derby.
“Going into his last race, he really didn’t have ideal preparation. He actually missed two works. When you go into a race like that after missing two works, you’re giving up some kind of fitness,” Joseph said. “When a horse runs such a big race and you don’t have him as fit as he should be, I think it’s taxing for a horse. You don’t want to bring them back too quick off a layoff.”
Gentry Farm’s A.P.’s Secret breezed a half-mile in 48.72 for Joseph Sunday morning in preparation for a start the Fountain of Youth (G2).
“It went really good. He had two quick breezes back-to-back. This one is close to the race so it was more toned down. He sat off a workmate on the outside and came the last quarter in 23 and [2/5ths seconds],” trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. “I thought it was a great final work. We’re excited to run him.”
A.P.’s Secret has won two of three career starts, including a front-running optional claiming allowance score Jan. 9.
Joseph-trained Collaborate and Ny Traffic also breezed Sunday morning at Gulfstream for Saturday’s $200,000 Gulfstream Park Mile (G2).
Three Chimneys Farm and e Five Racing Thoroughbreds’ Collaborate earned a bullet for three-furlong breeze in 34.36 seconds, the fastest clocking of 29 recorded at the distance.
John Fanelli and partners’ Ny Traffic breezed a half-mile in 49.07 seconds for a half-mile in preparation for his 2022 debut.
First Captain Victorious in First Race Back
West Point Thoroughbreds, Siena Farm LLC, Bobby Flay and Woodford Racing LLC’s First Captain came back running from a six-month layoff Sunday at Gulfstream Park, getting up in the final strides to prevail in the Race 10 feature.
The 4-year-old son of Curlin, who capped a three-race winning streak to open his career last year with a victory in the Dwyer (G3) at Belmont, hadn’t seen action since sustaining his only loss while finishing third in the July 30 Curlin Stakes at Saratoga.
First Captain trailed the field early as Doc Amster set the pace during fractions of 22.71 and 45.24 seconds for the first half mile of the seven-furlong optional claiming allowance. Doc Amster continued to show the way under Chantal Sutherland into the stretch as First Captain kicked in with a three-wide sweep. The pacesetter battled on gamely through the stretch but was unable to hold off First Captain, who claimed his fourth victory in five starts by a head.
“I was ready to run him. He hadn’t been overdone. If we hadn’t been able to run him today, I don’t know when I would have run him. I wasn’t keen on trying to run him in [Saturday’s] Gulfstream Park Mile without a race in him,” Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey said. “I was really pleased the way he ran, the way he acted, the way he finished. Coming over this track as fast as they were running, I think was a big accomplishment.”
First Captain ($3.80) ran seven furlongs in 1:22.19 under Jose Ortiz. Doc Amster finished three lengths ahead of third-place finisher Dennis’ Moment.
Rainbow 6 Gross Jackpot Pool Guaranteed at $150,000
Wednesday’s 20-cent Rainbow 6 gross jackpot pool at Gulfstream Park will be guaranteed at $150,000.
The popular multi-race wager went unsolved Sunday following Saturday’s mandatory payout.
The Rainbow 6 jackpot is paid out when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 70 percent of that day’s pool goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners, while 30 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool.
Who’s Hot
Irad Ortiz Jr. rode three straight winners on Sunday’s program, scoring aboard All Around ($3.60) in Race 5, Lucky Peridot ($6.60) in Race 6 and Freccia d’Argento ($4.60) in Race 7.
Miguel Vasquez doubled aboard Fishing for Fun ($7.20) in Race 1 and What’s Going On ($4) in Race 3. Paco Lopez also rode a pair of winners, Sensitivity ($65.20) in Race 4 and Mid Day Image ($) in Race 9.
Gulfstream Park Press Office
Photo: White Arbarrio returns to the winners circle after winning the Holy Bull/ Coglianese Photography
