Breeders' Cup Classic winner White Abarrio may remain where he is at Santa Anita Park in order to train all the way up to the Saudi Cup, trainer Rick Dutrow told Daily Racing Form this week. The $20 million race is scheduled for Feb. 27, 2024.
“Right now, the best scenario I see for the horse is stay right where he is,” Dutrow told DRF. “The chartered plane leaves 10 days before the race, I see that's the best case scenario. He doesn't have to do anything but get on a plane, get off one, and go racing.”
Co-owner Mark Cornett suggested that the Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream in late January might also be on the agenda.
Following the 4-year-old son of Race Day's Classic victory, Dutrow was willing to lay out a provisional schedule for 2024. He suggested that White Abarrio would go from the Saudi Cup to the Dubai World Cup (G1), run again in the Whitney, and try to defend his Classic title next November at Del Mar. Tiznow is the only horse to repeat in the Classic.
In 2021, brothers Clint and Mark Cornett decided they wanted to end their hiatus from owning Thoroughbreds and try to buy a horse that would take them to the Kentucky Derby (G1). That September, Mark Cornett, who lives in Naples, Florida, saw White Abarrio win his debut at Gulfstream Park. Within 24 hours they had completed the purchase.
White Abarrio won the Florida Derby (G1) for previous trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., and did take them to the Kentucky Derby, where he was 16th, and has run in high-level stakes.
Since being transferred to Dutrow, White Abarrio was third in the Met Mile (G1), won the Whitney (G1) at Saratoga, and added the Classic to his resume. Overall, his record stands at seven wins from 15 starts for earnings of $4,946,350.
Read more at the Daily Racing Form.
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