White Abarrio Wows His Trainer With Late Afternoon KY Derby Breeze At Gulfstream

C2 Racing Stable LLC and La Milagrosa Stable LLC's White Abarrio wowed trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. while breezing a half-mile between races during an impromptu workout on Saturday afternoon's program at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

The Curlin Florida Derby (G1) winner covered the four-furlong distance in 48.23 seconds over a fast track between races 10 and 11 before galloping out six furlongs in 1:12.38 and seven furlongs in 1:25.15.

“Wow. That's all I can say is 'wow,'” Joseph said. “He worked super. He worked super.”

 White Abarrio had been scheduled to breeze in the morning before heavy rains and a sloppy track prompted trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. to postpone the son of Race Day's final workout for next Saturday's Kentucky Derby (G1).

Joseph initially decided to postpone the breeze until Sunday morning but called an audible later in the day after the rains subsided and the racetrack dried out under mostly sunny skies during the afternoon.

Exercise rider Vincente Gudiel was aboard for White Abarrio's third workout at Gulfstream since his 1 ¼-length victory over Charge It in the April 2 Florida Derby. White Abarrio broke off at the three-eighths pole and posted fractions of 12.66 and 24.24 seconds on his way to his final clocking.

“I'm so appreciative of Gulfstream Park for helping us out and all the track crew for a great job. I can't thank them enough,” said Joseph, whose Derby candidate is scheduled to ship to Churchill Downs Sunday.

Joseph faced more serious challenges while preparing White Abarrio for his victories in the Feb. 5 Holy Bull (G3), missing two workouts due to illness, and the Florida Derby, for which his final breeze was delayed three days due to a slight fever.

White Abarrio ranks third on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard with 122 qualifying points.

White Abarrio was purchased by his current connections after debuting at Gulfstream Sept. 24 with a 6 ¾-length triumph. He went on to win an optional claiming allowance at Gulfstream by four lengths five weeks later. White Abarrio concluded his 2021 campaign with a third-place finish in the Nov. 27 Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs behind Smile Happy and Classic Causeway.

He made an auspicious 3-year-old debut at Gulfstream Feb. 5, capturing the Holy Bull (G3) by 4 ½ lengths ahead of Simplification, who went on the win March 5 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth (G2) in White Abarrio's absence. The Joseph trainee rallied from off the pace to defeat Charge It by 1 ¼ lengths in the Florida Derby.