White Abarrio draws the rail in $20 million Saudi Cup
February 21, 2024 February 24, 2024
Back to Our News PageKentucky-bred White Abarrio, winner of last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), drew the rail for the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh on Saturday, Feb. 24.
An impressive front-running winner of the Breeders’ Cup Classic, White Abarrio also captured the prestigious Whitney S. (G1) in 2023. The year before at three, White Abarrio won the Florida Derby (G1) and the Holy Bull S. (G3) at Gulfstream Park. Owned by C2 Racing Stable and La Milagrosa Stable, White Abarrio was bred by Spendthrift Farm, and the son of Race Day is conditioned by Richard Dutrow Jr.
Fellow Kentucky-bred National Treasure, winner of the 2023 Preakness S. (G1) and last month’s Pegasus World Cup (G1), will start from post position seven. The son of Quality Road is owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan, and is trained by Bob Baffert. Peter Blum Thoroughbreds bred the 4-year-old bay in Kentucky.
Rounding out the Kentucky-bred contingent in the lucrative Saudi Cup is Godolphin’s Japan-based Lemon Pop, who will start from post three; Hoist the Gold, who will break from post position eight; the aptly named Saudi Crown, who drew post five; Senor Buscador (post four); multiple Grade 1 winner Defunded (post nine); Power In Numbers, a son of Girvin, is a perfect 4-0 at Riyadh and drew post 10; and Carmel Road will break from the far outside in post 14.
FMQ Stables’ Saudi Crown, by Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Always Dreaming, won his seasonal debut, taking the Louisiana S. (G3) at Fair Grounds on Jan. 20. Saudi Crown won last year’s Pennsylvania Derby (G1) and was runner-up in the Jim Dandy S. (G2) at Saratoga. He was bred in Kentucky by CHC Inc. and is trained by Brad Cox. Lemon Pop, Japan’s top dirt horse in 2023 on the strength of a pair of Grade 1 wins last season, is a son of Lemon Drop Kid trained by Hiroyasu Tanaka. Lemon Pop was bred in Kentucky by Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Tait. Multiple Grade 1 winner Defunded, who owns victories in the Awesome Again S. (G1) and the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1), is by Dialed In.