Pegasus (with video link): White Abarrio, O’Connor Tune-Up for G1 Pegasus World Cup

By David Joseph —-

White Abarrio, O’Connor Tune-Up for G1 Pegasus World Cup

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – C2 Racing Stable LLC and La Milagrosa Stable LLC’s White Abarrio and Fernando Vine Ode and Michael and Jules Iavarone’s O’Connor, two-thirds of trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.’s scheduled starters in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) presented by Baccarat at Gulfstream Park Jan. 28, turned in final breezes Friday morning.

Video: https://www.xbtv.com/video/recent/white-abarrio-worked-4-furlongs-in-47-90-at-gulfstream-park-on-january-20th-2023/

The winner of the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) last season and the Chilean Group 1 winner are among the 12 top older horses in North America scheduled to compete in the 7th running of the 1 1/8-mile Pegasus World Cup, which will be featured on a stellar 13-race program with the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Turf (G1) presented by Qatar Racing, a 1 1/8-mile stakes for older horses, and the $500,000 TAA Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G3) presented by Pepsi, a 1 1/16-mile stakes for older fillies and mares.

White Abarrio geared up for the Pegasus during a half-mile workout in 47.90 seconds at Gulfstream Park under jockey Tyler Gaffalione. The 4-year-old son of Race Day produced the third fastest clocking of 45 recorded at the distance.

“He started off easy and finished his last quarter in 23 [seconds] flat,” Joseph said. “Tyler was very happy with him. We were also happy, visually.”

Friday’s breeze was the sixth in a series of workouts at Gulfstream, where White Abarrio is undefeated in four starts, including the Florida Derby and Holy Bull (G3) last season.

O’Connor breezed five furlongs in 1:00.61 at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream’s satellite training facility in Palm Beach County, under Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano.

“O’Connor worked in company. He sat off a workmate and finished up nicely. He galloped out strong,” Joseph said. “Everything seems to be in good order. His last quarter was in 23-and-3 [seconds]. It was a good solid work.”

White Abarrio, who most recently finished a close third in the Cigar Mile (G1) at Aqueduct, and O’Connor, who captured his U.S. debut before disappointing in the Dec. 31 Harlan’s Holiday (G3), are expected to be joined in the Pegasus starting gate by stablemate Daniel Alonso’s Skippylongstocking, last year’s third-place finisher in the Belmont Stakes (G1) who won the Harlan’s Holiday (G3). The Joseph-trained Skippylongstocking is scheduled to breeze at Palm Meadows,

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The Stronach Group is a world-class technology, entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering at the core. The company’s consumer facing brand 1/ST (pronounced “First”) powers The Stronach Group’s forward-thinking 1/ST RACING & GAMING, 1/ST CONTENT, 1/ST TECHNOLOGY, 1/ST EXPERIENCE, and 1/ST PROPERTIES businesses, while advocating for and driving the 1/ST HORSE CARE mission. 1/ST represents The Stronach Group’s continued movement toward redefining Thoroughbred horse racing and the ecosystem that drives it. 1/ST RACING & GAMING drives the best-in-class horse racing operations and gaming offerings at the company’s premier racetracks and training centers including: Santa Anita Park, Golden Gate Fields and San Luis Rey Downs (California); Gulfstream Park – home of the Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series, Gulfstream Park West and Palm Meadows Thoroughbred Training Center (Florida); the Maryland Jockey Club at Laurel Park, Pimlico Race Course – home of the legendary Preakness Stakes, Rosecroft Raceway and Bowie Training Center (Maryland). 1/ST CONTENT is operating group for 1/ST’s media and content companies including: Monarch Content Management, Elite, TSG Global Wagering Solutions (GWS) and XBTV. 1/ST TECHNOLOGY is horse racing’s largest racing and gaming technology company offering world-class products via its AmTote, Xpressbet, 1/ST BET, XB SELECT, XB NET, PariMAX and Betmix brands. 1/ST EXPERIENCE blends the worlds of sports, entertainment and hospitality through innovative content development, elevated national and local venue management and hospitality, strategic partnerships, sponsorships, and procurement development. 1/ST PROPERTIES is responsible for the development of the company’s live, work and play communities surrounding its racing venues including: The Village at Gulfstream Park (Florida) and Paddock Pointe (Maryland). As the advocate for critical industry reforms and by making meaningful investments into aftercare programs for retired horses and jockeys, 1/ST HORSE CARE represents The Stronach Group’s commitment to achieving the highest level of horse and rider care and safety standards in Thoroughbred horse racing on and off the track. For more information, please email david.joseph@gulfstreampark.com, visit www.1st.com or follow @1ST_racing on Twitter or @1stracing on Instagram and Facebook.