White Abarrio

Last updated
White Abarrio
White Abarrio.jpg
White Abarrio being led into the paddock before the 2023 Breeders Cup Classic
SireRace Day
Grandsire Tapit
DamCatching Diamonds
Damsire Into Mischief
Sex Stallion
FoaledMarch 18, 2019 (age 6) [1]
CountryUnited States
Color Gray or Roan
Breeder Spendthrift Farm
Owner1. Clap Embroidery (until Sept. 2021)
2. C2 Racing Stable & La Milagrosa Stable (Sept. 2021 – Sept. 2022)
3. C2 Racing Stable & Antonio Pagnano (Dec. 2022 – Feb 2024)
4. C2 Racing Stable, Prince Faisal bin Khaled bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud & Antonio Pagnano (Feb. 2024 - Jan 2025)
5. C2 Racing Stable, Gary Barber & Antonio Pagnano (Mar. 2025 -)
Trainer1. Carlos Perez (until Sept. 2021)
2. Saffie Joseph Jr. (Oct. 2021 – May 2023)
3. Richard E. Dutrow Jr. (May 2023 – June 2024)
4. Saffie Joseph Jr. (June 2024 – )
Record23: 10 - 2 - 3
Earnings$7,071,920 [2]
Major wins
Holy Bull Stakes (2022)
Florida Derby (2022)
Whitney Stakes (2023)
Pegasus World Cup (2025)
Breeders' Cup wins:
Breeders' Cup Classic (2023)
Last updated on August 5, 2025

White Abarrio (born 18 March 2019) is a multiple Grade I winning American Thoroughbred racehorse. He is a winner of four Grade I stakes races: the Florida Derby in 2022, the Whitney Stakes and Breeders' Cup Classic in 2023, and the Pegasus World Cup in 2025.

Contents

Background

White Abarrio is a gray horse bred by Spendthrift Farm. He is by the Tapit son Race Day, out of the Into Mischief mare Catching Diamonds. White Abarrio was sold as a yearling at the 2020 OBS Winter Mixed Sale for $7,500 to Jose Ordonez from Summerfield's consignment. The following year, he was a $40,000 purchase by Carlos Perez from the 2021 Ocala Breeders' Sales March Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training, where he was consigned by Nice and Easy Thoroughbreds. [3] White Abarrio is the only one of Catching Diamonds' five foals to race. Her most recent offspring are a yearling Lord Nelson colt and a Yaupon 2023 filly. [4]

Racing Career

2021: Two-year-old season

White Abarrio won by 6+34 lengths in his first start on September 24, 2021 at Gulfstream Park for Perez. Following the win, the horse was sold privately to Clint and Mark Cornett's C2 Racing Stable, with the original owners retaining a share through La Milagrosa Stable, and the horse was transferred to trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. [5] White Abarrio had two more starts, winning against a short allowance field at Gulfstream on October 29 before finishing third in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs. [6] [7]

2022: Three-year-old season

White Abarrio started his three-year-old campaign with victories in the Holy Bull Stakes and Florida Derby for three-year-olds at Gulfstream, the latter giving trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. his second victory in a Grade I stakes race. [3] The horse then went to the Kentucky Derby where he finished 16th, beaten by 20 lengths. [8] White Abarrio made four more stakes starts in the year, with placings in the Grade II Ohio Derby and the Grade I Cigar Mile Handicap. [2]

2023: Four-year-old season

After finishing eighth of twelve runners in the Pegasus World Cup, [9] White Abarrio won an allowance race at Gulfstream at seven furlongs, the shortest he had ever raced since breaking his maiden. [10]

Two months after the allowance victory, White Abarrio was transferred to trainer Richard Dutrow, Jr. following the temporary suspension by Churchill Downs of trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. after the sudden death of two of his horses. C2 Racing Stable said at the time that they had the utmost confidence in Joseph and his team, but that they made the change to Dutrow based on the ability to manage White Abarrio and the "lack of answers by jurisdictions and operators" with regard to Joseph's status. [11] The owners then sent him to Belmont Park to contest the Grade I Metropolitan Handicap, where he finished third to eventual Horse of the Year Cody's Wish. [12]

White Abarrio then went to Saratoga Race Course to run in the Whitney Stakes, where Cody's Wish was among five others in the starting gate. Sent off as the fourth betting choice, White Abarrio entered the first turn wide but settled in to stay within a length of pace setter Giant Game. White Abarrio entered the stretch and began to pull away from the rest of the field under urging by jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. to win by 6+14 lengths, while Cody's Wish could do no better than third. [13] The Whitney would also be Dutrow's first Grade I victory since returning from a 10-year suspension imposed by the New York State Gaming Commission. [4]

At the end of the year, White Abarrio contested the Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park. Starting as the favorite, he chased the pace and passed race leader Arabian Knight in the stretch, winning by one length over the Japanese-bred and owned Derma Sotogake. [14] White Abarrio finished second to Cody's Wish in Eclipse Award voting for American Horse of the Year and American Champion Older Dirt Male Horse. [15]

2024: Five-year-old season

After poor finishes in the Saudi Cup in Saudi Arabia and the Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont, C2 Racing Stable announced that White Abarrio would be transferred back to Saffie Joseph, Jr. and be pointed to the John A. Nerud Stakes. [16] The horse did not run in the Nerud, with Joseph telling Daily Racing Form that they wanted to give the horse "a little more time." [17] White Abarrio came back at the end of the year in a pair of 7-furlong sprints at Gulfstream, winning an allowance and finishing second in the Mr. Prospector Stakes. [2]

2025: Six-year-old season

At the start of 2025, White Abarrio was entered into his second Pegasus World Cup and was made the second choice behind Locked. Settling into fifth place early in the race, he charged on race leader Saudi Crown on the far turn and opened up in the stretch to win by 6+14 lengths. [18] Two months later, he won the Ghostzapper Stakes at Gulfstream. Later in the year, he finished fourth in both the Metropolitan Handicap and the Whitney Stakes. [2]

White Abarrio was entered into the 2025 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar and made the fifth choice on the morning line in the ten horse field. [19] Immediately before the race, White Abarrio was scratched by the stewards. According to reports, regulatory veterinarians expressed concern about possible lameness in the horse's left front leg. The following day, C2 Racing Stable stated that White Abarrio was doing well, with no soundness issues. [20]

Statistics

DateDistanceRaceGrade /
Group
TrackOddsFieldFinishWinning
time
Winning
(Losing)
margin
JockeyRef
2021 Two-year-old season
Sep 24, 2021Maiden Special Weight Gulfstream Park 12.301111:17.19Angel Arroyo [21]
Oct 29, 2021Allowance Gulfstream Park 0.30*511:36.74Edgard Zayas [6]
Nov 27, 2021 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes Churchill Downs 6.701131:43.94Edgard Zayas [7]
2022 Three-year-old season
Feb 5, 2022 Holy Bull Stakes Gulfstream Park 6.00911:42.80 Tyler Gaffalione [22]
Apr 2, 2022 Florida Derby Gulfstream Park 2.901111:50.64 Tyler Gaffalione [23]
May 7, 2022 Kentucky Derby Churchill Downs 15.4020162:02.61 Tyler Gaffalione [8]
Jun 25, 2022 Ohio Derby Thistledown 1.50*721:10.46 Tyler Gaffalione [24]
Jul 23, 2022 Haskell Stakes Monmouth Park 7.00871:46.24 Joel Rosario [25]
Sep 24, 2022 Pennsylvania Derby Parx Racing 29.701151:48.67 Luis Saez [26]
Dec 3, 2022 Cigar Mile Handicap Aqueduct 3.65631:35.53 Irad Ortiz Jr. [27]
2023 Four-year-old season
Jan 29, 2023 Pegasus World Cup Gulfstream Park 6.301281:49.44 Tyler Gaffalione [9]
Mar 4, 2023Allowance Gulfstream Park 1.20*1011:22.05 Tyler Gaffalione [10]
Jun 10, 2023 Metropolitan Handicap Belmont Park 20.20931:34.36 Tyler Gaffalione [12]
Aug 5, 2023 Whitney Stakes Saratoga 10.20611:48.45 Irad Ortiz Jr. [28]
Nov 4, 2023 Breeders' Cup Classic Santa Anita 2.60*1212:02.87 Irad Ortiz Jr. [29]
2024 Five-year-old season
Feb 24, 2024 Saudi Cup King Abdulaziz 14101:52.22 Irad Ortiz Jr. [30]
Jun 8, 2024 Metropolitan Handicap Saratoga 1.70651:35.12 Irad Ortiz Jr. [31]
Nov 22, 2024Allowance Gulfstream Park 0.40*511:23.52 Irad Ortiz Jr. [32] [33]
Dec 28, 2024 Mr. Prospector Stakes Gulfstream Park 0.40*1021:22.47 Irad Ortiz Jr. [34]
2025 Six-year-old season
Jan 25, 2025 Pegasus World Cup Gulfstream Park 2.801111:48.05 Irad Ortiz Jr. [35]
Mar 29, 2025Ghostzapper Stakes Gulfstream Park 0.05*611:41.97 Irad Ortiz Jr. [36]
Jun 7, 2025 Metropolitan Handicap Saratoga 2.60541:35.89 Irad Ortiz Jr. [37]
Aug 2, 2025 Whitney Stakes ISaratoga4.50941:48.92 Irad Ortiz Jr. [38]


Notes:
An (*) asterisk after the odds means White Abarrio was the post-time favorite.

  1. Wagering is not allowed in Saudi Arabia. In British wagering, White Abarrio started at 11/8 odds and was the favorite


Pedigree

Pedigree of White Abarrio, gray or roan colt, March 18, 2019 [1]
Sire
Race Day
(2011)
Tapit
(2001)
Pulpit
(1994)
A.P. Indy (1989)
Preach (1989)
Tap Your Heels
(1996)
Unbridled (1987)
Ruby Slippers (1982)
Rebalite
(2004)
More Than Ready
(1997)
Southern Halo (1983)
Woodman's Girl (1990)
Printing Press
(1981)
In Reality (1964)
Wealth Of Nations (1975)
Dam
Catching Diamonds
(2015)
Into Mischief
(2005)
Harlan's Holiday
(1999)
Harlan (1989)
Christmas in Aiken (1992)
Leslie's Lady
(1996)
Tricky Creek (1986)
Crystal Lady (CAN) (1990)
Grand Breeze
(2005)
Grand Slam
(1995)
Gone West (1984)
Bright Candles (1987)
Breeze Lass
(1990)
It's Freezing (1972)
Faneuil Lass (1979) (Family: 9-e) [39]

References

  1. 1 2 "Pedigree of White Abarrio". Equineline. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Profile of White Abarrio". Equibase. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  3. 1 2 McCarthy, Charlie (2 April 2022). "White Abarrio Soars to Florida Derby Victory; The son of Race Day punched his Kentucky Derby (G1) ticket April 2 at Gulfstream". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  4. 1 2 Ehalt, Bob (5 August 2023). "White Abarrio Runs Away in Whitney Romp for Dutrow; After a 10-year hiatus from training, Rick Dutrow captured a grade 1 race Aug. 5". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  5. Genaro, Teresa (14 February 2023). "C2 Racing Lands on Derby Trail with White Abarrio; MarketWatch Interview: Mark Cornett". Bloodhorse Daily. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  6. 1 2 "Chart for October 29, 2021 at Gulfstream Park - race 2". www.equibase.com. 29 October 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  7. 1 2 "Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes Grade 2 – (race 11)". Equibase. 27 November 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  8. 1 2 "Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve Grade 1 - (race 12)". Equibase. Archived from the original on May 8, 2022. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  9. 1 2 "2023 Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. presented by Baccarat Grade 1 (race 13)". www.equibase.com. 29 January 2022. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  10. 1 2 "Chart for March 4, 2023 at Gulfstream Park - race 7". www.equibase.com. 4 March 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  11. "'Lack Of Answers': White Abarrio Transferred From Saffie Joseph To Rick Dutrow For Remainder Of 2023". Paulick Report. May 23, 2023. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  12. 1 2 "Hill 'N' Dale Metropolitan Handicap (Grade 1 - race 10)". equibase.com. 10 June 2023. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  13. Orr Jr, Alex (August 5, 2023). "Long shot White Abarrio wins 96th running of the Whitney Stakes at Saratoga". Times Union. Archived from the original on August 7, 2023. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  14. Tran, Daniel (November 4, 2023). "White Abarrio roars to a 2023 Breeders' Cup Classic win". NBC Sports. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  15. "2023 Eclipse Award Winners Are Announced, Cody's Wish Voted 2023 Horse of the Year" (Press release). National Thoroughbred Racing Association. January 25, 2024. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  16. "White Abarrio Returning To Saffie Joseph Jr. After Subpar Met Mile Result". Paulick Report. June 10, 2024. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  17. Grening, David (June 29, 2024). "White Abarrio to skip John Nerud Stakes". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  18. King, Byron (January 25, 2025). "White Abarrio Overpowers Rivals in Pegasus World Cup". The BloodHorse. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  19. Grening, David (October 29, 2025). "Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile: Nysos taking the Full Serrano route". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  20. "White Abarrio 'Doing Great' Day After Breeders' Cup Scratch". Paulick Report. November 2, 2025. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
  21. "Chart for September 24, 2021 at Gulfstream Park - race 4". www.equibase.com. 24 September 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  22. "Holy Bull Stakes Grade 3 - (race 11)". Equibase. 5 February 2022. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  23. "2022 Curlin Florida Derby Grade 1 – (race 14)". Equibase. 2 April 2022. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
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  25. "TVG.com Haskell Stakes (Grade 1 – race 12)". equibase.com. 23 July 2022. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
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  27. "Cigar Mile Handicap Presented by NYRA Bets Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 3 December 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
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  32. "Allowance Optional Claiming (race 7)". equibase.com. 22 November 2024. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
  33. Rollins, Molly (November 24, 2024). "White Abarrio Successful in Gulfstream Return". The Blood-Horse . Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  34. "Mr. Prospector Stakes Grade 3 (race 10)". equibase.com. 28 December 2024. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
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  36. "Ghostzapper Stakes chart".
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  38. "2025 Whitney Stakes Grade 1 - (race 11)". Equibase. 2 August 2025. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
  39. "Thoroughbred Bloodlines – MAID OF MASHAM (GB) – Family 9-e". www.bloodlines.net. Archived from the original on January 13, 2025. Retrieved August 7, 2023.