C Two Racing Stable and Antonio Pagnano’s Kentucky-bred White Abarrio registered a convincing score in the $1 million Whitney S. (G1) at Saratoga on Saturday, Aug. 5, earning a berth in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). The dominating victory marked the second Grade 1 score for the son of Race Day who also annexed the Florida Derby (G1) last year at three.
Ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., White Abarrio stalked the early pace and took over full of run on the far turn. He quickly opened five lengths on the field in the stretch and powered home to score by 6 ¼ lengths, covering 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.45 for trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. Fellow Kentucky-bred Zandon finished second and 2-5 favorite and Kentucky-bred Cody’s Wish finished third after a tardy start.
“Very, very happy for everybody involved,” said Dutrow. “The owners trusted me to train the horse, and now we get to go further with him. We can even think about the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Now we get to think about going even further in the mile-and-a-quarter (Classic) or the (Dirt) Mile. We’re sitting in a good spot. We’re very happy.”
Bred in Kentucky by Spendthrift Farm, White Abarrio, whose record is now 14-6-1-3, improved his bankroll to $1,826,350. He was a $40,000 graduate of the 2021 OBS March Sale where he was consigned by Nice and Easy Thoroughbreds.
Prior to the Whitney, White Abarrio finished third in the Metropolitan H. (G1) behind Cody’s Wish and Zandon in June. The gray or roan colt was an impressive winner of the 2022 Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park and finished second in that year’s Ohio Derby (G3) and third in the Cigar Mile H. (G1). He is produced from the Into Mischief mare Catching Diamonds.