Photo:

Scott Serio / Eclipse Sportswire

White Abarrio stalked the pace before Irad Ortiz Jr. went
into overdrive in the stretch, powering to a 6 1/4-length triumph Saturday in
the Grade 1, $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park.

The 6-year-old owned by C2 Racing Stable, Prince Faisal of Saudi Arabia and
Antonio Pagnano, became the first horse to win the two signature races at Gulfstream
after having won the 2022 Florida Derby (G1).

Click here for Gulfstream Park entries and results.

Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., White Abarrio (5-2) stayed on
the flank of front-running Saudi Crown (4-1), who took the field of 11 older
horses through early fractions of 23.43, 46.68 and 1:10.79.

White Abarrio found the lead at the top of the stretch and
drew away under a hand ride by Ortiz, clicking through a mile in 1:35.44 before
crossing the finish line with a time of 1:48.05 for the two-turn, 1 1/8-mile
race.

Post-time favorite Locked (9-5), who started poorly from post
10, closed to finish second. Skippylongstocking (9-1), also trained by Joseph,
finished third. Mixto (40-1) was fourth, and Saudi Crown (4-1) held on for
fifth.

White Abarrio paid $7.60, $3.80 and $3.00; Locked $3.20 and $2.40;
and Skippylongstocking $4.40.

It was White Abarrio’s first stakes win since his return to
Joseph in June. The son of Race Day was trained by Rick Dutrow for his 2023 victories
in the Whitney (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Classic. C2 owners Clint and Mark Cornett
moved White Abarrio to Dutrow after two of Joseph’s horses died during a spate
of fatalities ahead of the 2023 Kentucky Derby. Joseph was cleared but not
before the transfer was needed to assure the horse’s eligibility to race two summers ago in New York.

Ortiz has won the Pegasus three times. This was Joseph’s first victory in the race that was known as the Donn Handicap before it was rebranded nine runnings ago.

This story will be updated.