Spendthrift-bred colt rolls in Holy Bull S. (G3)
February 6, 2022
White Abarrio put himself on the Kentucky Derby (G1) trail with a commanding victory in Saturday’s $250,000 Holy Bull S. (G3) at Gulfstream Park.
Spendthrift Farm bred the gray/roan colt, who is the first foal out of the Into Mischief mare Catching Diamonds. She is a half-sister to Cool Cowboy, who was a multiple graded stakes winner in Dubai and a two-time stakes winner in the U.S.
White Abarrio was making his first start since finishing third in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) in late November. A good break in Saturday’s 1 1/16-mile contest put him just behind the early leader Galt going into the first turn. White Abarrio tracked the leader until called on with three furlongs to go.
The gray pulled on even terms just before straightening for home, the burst clear from the field when set down for the drive. He was full of run in the final furlong, coming home a 4 ½-length winner in 1:42.80 on the fast main track.
“It was a big performance,” winning trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. said. “We were ahead of schedule all the time and then he got sick and we missed two works. We ended up going from being ahead of schedule to being behind. Quality horses overcome those things.”
Joseph said that the Florida Derby (G1, on April 2) could be the next start for the colt, who earned 10 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby for Saturday’s win.
“I would say off this, the ball is in our court, why not go straight to the Florida Derby? It gives him good spacing, but we’ll talk it over whether to go to the Fountain of Youth (G2, on March 5) or not.”
White Abarrio, who is owned by C2 Racing Stable aLLC and La Milagrosa Stable, LLC, is 3-0-1 in four starts and has earned $240,850.
Catching Diamonds is also the dam of the 2-year-old colt Cage Match (Gormley) and a yearling colt by Lord Nelson. She was bred back to the latter for 2022.