HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. — White Abarrio delivered a strong performance to win the $3 million Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. He completed the race, which stretched 1 1/8 miles, in a swift 1:48.05, all while being expertly guided by jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. This marked Ortiz’s third win in the Pegasus World Cup.
As the 5-2 favorite, White Abarrio rewarded bettors with payouts of $7.60 to win, $3.80 to place, and $3 to show. Locked came in second, returning $3.20 and $2.40, while Skippylongstocking rounded out the top three with a $4.40 payout.
2023 has been a remarkable year for White Abarrio. He not only clinched the prestigious $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic but also won the Whitney Stakes at Saratoga. His journey began with a victory in the Florida Derby at Gulfstream in 2022, showcasing his talent early on.
In a turn of events, White Abarrio switched trainers when Saffie Joseph Jr. couldn’t race at Churchill Downs due to unfortunate circumstances involving his other horses. To prepare for the Met Mile at Belmont, White Abarrio’s owners enlisted the help of trainer Rick Dutrow. He later returned to Joseph’s care in June 2024.
“Today he was spectacular,” expressed a teary-eyed Joseph after the race. “I’m just thankful.”
In the $1 million Pegasus Turf race, Spirit of St Louis narrowly defeated Integration by a neck. The 6-year-old gelding completed the distance on turf in a time of 1:44.50, just shy of the track record. Spirit of St Louis, ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, paid $17.80 for a win at 7-1 odds.
The horse is trained by Chad Brown, who was recently honored with the Eclipse Award as the country’s top trainer. Chasing the Crown finished in third place.
Check out this related article: Spirit of St. Louis: The NY-Bred Champion Triumphs at the Pegasus World Cup Turf!
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