White Abarrio followed up his scintillating win in the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational in January with a romping score in the GIII Ghostzapper Stakes at Gulfstream Park Saturday. Sent off the 1-9 favorite, the gray veteran broke sharply and sat just off pacesetting longshot One Sharp Cookie (Sharp Azteca) with the filly Power Squeeze racing just to his outside through an opening quarter in :22.82. He moved to take the lead with Power Squeeze matching his move as the half went up in :45.98. White Abarrio skipped clear of the filly approaching the stretch and sailed clear down the lane to win by a geared-down seven lengths.
“He's in a different league right now,” trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. “He did it as easy as he can. Hopefully, he stays healthy after this. We feel like he's the best horse in the country.”
White Abarrio, winner of the 2023 GI Breeders' Cup Classic, is now eight for 10 lifetime at Gulfstream Park. The gray began to turn a disappointing 2024 campaign around with a 10 1/4-length optional claimer score at Gulfstream last November and ended the year with a runner-up effort in the Dec. 28 GIII Mr. Prospector Stakes. He romped home a 6 1/4-length winner of the Pegasus World Cup last time out Jan. 25.
White Abarrio is scheduled to make his next start in the June 7 GI Metropolitan Handicap at Saratoga.
“Perfect prep,” Joseph said of Saturday's effort. “You obviously want to make it as easy as possible, and you want to win. You don't want to get beat. I thought he won as easy as he could after going so quick early.”
Pedigree Notes:
White Abarrio is the first foal out of Catching Diamonds, who has a 2-year-old filly by Yaupon. She was bred to Taiba last year. The mare, who was purchased by Spendthrift for $425,000 at the 2016 Keeneland September sale, is a half-sister to multiple group winner Cool Cowboy (Kodiak Kowboy) and to the dam of graded winner and Grade I placed Mutasaabeq (Into Mischief).
⚪ WHITE ABARRIO ($2.10) WOWS US AGAIN!!!
There was no stopping @iradortiz and the 2023 @BreedersCup Classic winner in the $165,000 Ghostzapper Stakes presented by @FanDuelTV (G3) at @GulfstreamPark. @SaffieJosephJr trains the 6YO horse for owners @C2RacingStable. pic.twitter.com/TDJFFeaCXB
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) March 29, 2025
Saturday, Gulfstream
GHOSTZAPPER S. PRESENTED BY FANDUEL TV-GIII, $150,000, Gulfstream, 3-29, 4yo/up, 1 1/16m, 1:41.97, ft.
1–WHITE ABARRIO, 124, h, 6, by Race Day
1st Dam: Catching Diamonds, by Into Mischief
2nd Dam: Grand Breeze, by Grand Slam
3rd Dam: Breeze Lass, by It's Freezing
($7,500 Ylg '20 OBSWIN; $40,000 2yo '21 OBSMAR).
O-C2 Racing Stable LLC, Gary Barber and La Milagrosa Stable
LLC; B-Spendthrift Farm LLC (KY); T-Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.; J-Irad
Ortiz, Jr. $92,070. Lifetime Record: MGISW, 21-10-2-3,
$6,971,920. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Power Squeeze, 117, f, 4, Union Rags–Callmethesqueeze,
by Awesome Again. ($50,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP; $90,000 2yo '23
OBSAPR). O-Lea Farms LLC; B-Forging Oaks LLC (KY); T-Jorge
Delgado. $29,700.
3–Tuscan Sky, 118, c, 4, Vino Rosso–South Andros, by Sky
Mesa. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($200,000 Ylg '22 FTKJUL;
$450,000 4yo '25 FTDGJA). O-Repole Stable; B-Sierra Farm
(KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $14,850.
Margins: 5 1/4, 1, 1. Odds: 0.05, 13.90, 8.10.
Also Ran: Lightning Tones, The Thor (Chi), One Sharp Cookie. Scratched: Super Corinto (Arg).
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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