When White Abarrio is at his greatest, it may be argued there may be not a greater horse on the market. He proved that two years in the past when he closed the season with a flourish, sweeping the Whitney Stakes and the Longines Breeders’ Cup Basic whereas skilled by Richard Dutrow Jr.
Horses can fall off kind, although. The 6-year-old son of Race Day will attempt to present he has regained his greatest stride when he competes within the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes Saturday at Gulfstream Park.
Now skilled by South Florida-based Saffie Joseph Jr., White Abarrio will break from post-position 4 in a discipline of 12 with Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard. He’s listed because the second alternative within the morning line at 3-1 odds. Locked, who can be ridden by John Velazquez, is the 5-2 favourite regardless of an unfavorable submit. He drew submit 11 for the 1 1/8-mile contest and can very probably be below stress to achieve early place through the brief run into the primary flip.
White Abarrio is owned by C2 Racing Steady, Prince Faisal bin Khaled bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, and Antonio Pagnano. C2, which attracts its identify from the administration staff of brothers Clint and Mark Cornett, correctly focused him in a personal buy after he broke his maiden in September 2021. C2 additional enhanced its repute when its Soul of an Angel pulled an upset within the PNC Financial institution Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Dash final November.
The Cornetts have been born in Dallas. Mark Cornett, racing supervisor, supplied perception into White Abarrio, his view of the Pegasus, and the brothers’ keys to success throughout a question-and-answer session performed on behalf of America’s Finest Racing.
PEDULLA: How is White Abarrio doing?
CORNETT: He had his closing breeze final week [four furlongs, :48.34, Jan. 16]. All the pieces went good.
PEDULLA: What led to the formation of C2?
CORNETT: I had gotten out of the enterprise and centered on one thing else for a few years. My brother referred to as me and mentioned, ‘Let’s do one thing particular on this enterprise. Let’s get rolling once more.’ In 2021, we fashioned C2. White Abarrio was the second horse we purchased.
PEDULLA: Is it difficult for the 2 of you to work collectively?
CORNETT: No, by no means. It really works out actually good. I deal with the racing aspect, managing the horses, and that aspect of the enterprise, and he handles principally every part else.
PEDULLA: What did you see in White Abarrio that led you to buy him?
CORNETT: We have been searching for a 3-year-old prospect to run within the Kentucky Derby. I noticed him run in a maiden particular weight out of the one gap at Gulfstream and he did some particular issues.
PEDULLA: Roughly what number of horses do you’ve, both as sole house owners or in partnership?
CORNETT: About 40.
PEDULLA: How do you sometimes purchase horses? Are they principally personal purchases?
CORNETT: Yeah, they’re personal purchases. My forte is seeing one thing on the racetrack, whether or not it’s mismanagement or they’re lacking one thing or I see a horse I like, we’ll attempt to purchase it privately. Eighty p.c of our horses are purchased privately.
PEDULLA: How was Soul of an Angel acquired?
CORNETT: It was a personal buy. She ran in opposition to us at Gulfstream. I really noticed her within the paddock. She was a beautiful filly, the best-looking filly within the race. I watched her run and he or she beat us. She really ran a pleasant second. Tried to purchase her after that race. Couldn’t get it finished. They ran her again in about three weeks within the Azeri (March 9, 2024) at Oaklawn. We made one other try and at last acquired the deal negotiated.
PEDULLA: What’s the key to creating profitable personal purchases?
CORNETT: We don’t purchase something and not using a particular plan in thoughts. I’m not searching for only a horse. I’ve a imaginative and prescient of what that horse can develop into. We attempt to develop a 3-to 5-race plan.
PEDULLA: How a lot of an asset is it to have Saffie Joseph Jr. as your major coach?
CORNETT: It’s big. We’re very large on communication. I’m managing 30-40 horses and also you’ve acquired to get correct data from every coach. In the event you don’t, you may’t handle the horse appropriately.
PEDULLA: Had been you shocked when Soul of an Angel received the Filly & Mare Dash?
CORNETT: Completely not. That’s why she was in there. In the event you see one among our horses in a race, they’re stay within the spot, interval. We don’t run horses in races if we don’t assume we’re stay in there.
PEDULLA: What did it imply to you when White Abarrio received the Basic?
CORNETT: It was large. He had already received the Florida Derby, a really prestigious race. He had received the Whitney, one other prestigious race, after which he received the Basic. It was a significant accomplishment for my brother and I. It’s very nice when you’ve a imaginative and prescient for a horse, you recognized one thing in a horse and also you map it out, plan it out, overcome plenty of obstacles to get to that race. We’re very happy with him.
PEDULLA: He returned from a layoff to dominate an allowance-optional claiming race at Gulfstream and completed a fast-closing second within the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector Stakes Dec. 28 there. How do you consider these begins?
CORNETT: The allowance race was precisely what we needed to see. Then we got here again within the Mr. Prospector. We have been unlucky on the break. He acquired shuffled again. He was really lifeless final, which is completely in opposition to what he desires to do. He tried to run large down the lane however simply couldn’t fairly get there. Galloped out nice, got here out of the race nice.
PEDULLA: What are your expectations for the Pegasus? How do you charge your possibilities?
CORNETT: I believe we’ll be one of many high three decisions. I believe it will likely be Saudi Crown, Locked, and us. How the horse breaks goes to be large. It’s not the longest run into the primary flip, so positioning goes to imply every part right here.
PEDULLA: Since you’re based mostly at Gulfstream, what wouldn’t it imply to win the Pegasus World Cup?
CORNETT: I don’t know of any horse that has received the Florida Derby, the Whitney, the Breeders’ Cup Basic, and the Pegasus. It’s a really prestigious race. For the horse’s profession, it will imply quite a bit.
