C2 Racing Secure, co-owner of Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes(G1) hero White Abarrio , has introduced that their steady star is not going to pursue a return bid within the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) Feb. 22. The information was revealed on the social media platform X Feb. 5, 11 days after the 6-year-old’s dominating efficiency at Gulfstream Park.
Relatively than make the journey to the Center East, C2 Racing Stables wrote that White Abarrio would pursue a home marketing campaign and “goal main U.S. stakes occasions all through 2025.” Final 12 months, the son of Race Day completed a disappointing tenth within the Saudi Cup after a scenario the place he was on the airplane “for about 24 straight hours” when his departure flight was delayed in Miami, in line with C2 Racing Secure’s Mark Cornett.
Campaigned in partnership by C2 Racing, Prince Faisal bin Khaled bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, and Antonio Pagnano, White Abarrio will goal the March 29 Ghostzapper Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park with the long-term objective being the $1 million Metropolitan Handicap (G1) at Saratoga Race Course June 7.
White Abarrio’s connections expressed that the choice had nothing to do with the horse’s well being or bodily situation following his 6 1/4-length tour de drive within the Pegasus World Cup. Coach Saffie Joseph Jr. had instructed the Gulfstream Park media group the day after the Pegasus that White Abarrio had “bounced out effectively” following his first grade 1 rating since taking the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Basic (G1). The Pegasus was the grey/roan’s second win since rejoining Joseph’s barn final fall. After starting his profession with Joseph, White Abarrio was transferred to Rick Dutrow Jr. throughout his 4-year-old marketing campaign.
Soul on an Angel Nearer to Becoming a member of Saudi Cup
With the defection of White Abarrio in addition to 2024 Breeders’ Cup Basic winner and champion 3-year-old male Sierra Leone , who was declared out of the race by coach Chad Brown earlier Wednesday resulting from a foot abscess, C2 Racing Secure, Agave Racing Secure, and Ken Reimer’s Soul of an Angel might be subsequent as much as be part of the Saudi Cup discipline.
The 2024 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Dash (G1) winner, Soul of an Angel labored a half-mile in :47.80 Feb. 2 at Gulfstream. Additionally educated by Joseph, the daughter of Atreides was lately topped the Eclipse Award-winning champion feminine sprinter. Soul of an Angel has made one begin since her last-to-first tally within the Breeders’ Cup, ending an in depth third behind Windy Stroll and Energy Squeeze within the Dec. 26 Rampart Stakes.
After her Sunday work, Joseph mentioned he was nonetheless hoping to get an invitation.
“We’re nonetheless sort of ready a bit to see if we get in to Saudi. They instructed us we had been doubtless invited, after which mentioned we had been on the reserve checklist,” Joseph mentioned Feb. 2.
Coach Saffie Joseph Jr. greets Soul of an Angel and rider Drayden Van Dyke after the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Dash at Del Mar
