Is Racing’s Great White Hope Really Great?
This is the story of White Abarrio and Rick Dutrow, their unlikely alliance, and the odd path that has brought them to Santa Anita and the Breeders’ Cup Classic. ~ Steve Haskin
Is Racing’s Great White Hope Really Great?
By Steve Haskin
What’s the difference between Rick Dutrow and Napoleon? One was able to return to his former glory after returning from exile and one was not. It didn’t take long following his 10-year exile for Dutrow to rebuild his once powerful army and show the world there would be no Waterloo for him.
Instead, he would take in a former Kentucky Derby contender and Florida Derby winner who seemingly was on the road to mediocrity more than a year later and quickly turned him into racing’s “White Wonder.”
His name is White Abarrio and if you look it up on SpanishDictionary.com the definition reads: “White Abarrio es uno de los caballos de carrera más rápidos que he visto,” which translates to ““White Abarrio is one of the fastest race horses I’ve ever seen.”
We don’t know who actually came up with that, but after the demolition we witnessed in the Whitney Stakes in August, what appeared to be a way over the top definition does not seem quite as absurd anymore.
The question many people are asking is how does a horse who surely has never shown that kind of brilliance before blow away a classy field in the Whitney? His second trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. did a great job with him early on, winning the Holy Bull Stakes and Florida Derby in only the fourth and fifth starts of his career. Edilberto Herrera, who broke and trained the colt and prepped him for the OBS 2-year-old sale had followed him closely during those early races, but admitted when he saw him in the paddock before the Whitney he was amazed how much he had bulked up from the previous year and thought, “Wow! He looks like a monster.”
That monster came out during the race when he left top-class horses Cody’s Wish, Zandon, and Charge It far behind him, coasting home by 6 1/4 lengths, earning a whopping 110 Beyer speed figure and negative-6 1/2 Thoro-Graph number. Not only was he back after plunging into virtual obscurity, so was his new trainer Rick Dutrow. But before we get into the events that brought them together let’s first find out something about White Abarrio.
White Abarrio January 2020 OBS Sale
Despite being bred by powerhouse Spendthrift Farm, White Abarrio’s success could hardly have been predicted. As a newly turned yearling in January 2020, Spendthrift consigned him to the Keeneland January mixed sale, feeling he was on the small side and not fashionably bred. But in November they scratched him from the sale after selling majority interest in him as part of a package deal made up of weanlings with lesser bred pedigrees. The buyer was Raul Reyes of Kings Equine who has been breaking the Spendthrift yearlings for years and selling horses for them. The colt, in addition to being small, was not a standout physically. So instead of selling at the Keeneland January sale, he was put in the Ocala January mixed sale two weeks later.
Although he was by a multiple graded stakes winner and his grandsires were super stallions Tapit and Into Mischief, he was sold for a meager $7,500 to Jose Ordonez, who purchased only the one yearling at the sale.
“We took him to OBS on the ‘bigger fish’ theory, which has often worked well for us,” said Spendthrift general manager Ned Toffey. “Why nobody else thought he was worth more I really can’t say. He was always a well made, tidy little colt, but being by Race Day it was unlikely he would ever be a horse we would want to stand at stud.”
White Abarrio March 2021 OBS Sale
After purchasing the colt, Ordonez turned him over to Herrera, his nephew and partner, to be broken and trained for the 2021 March OBS 2-year-old sale. “We bought him because of Tapit and Into Mischief,” Herrera said. “He walked correctly and did everything right. He had so much class. I would get on him and he would breeze a quarter of a mile in :20 4/5 and :21, and it was like riding in a new car.”
Unfortunately, two days after arriving at Ocala he had his prep breeze for the final breeze show and things did not go as planned. The prep breeze was at an eighth of a mile, a distance he was not used to, having breezed a quarter mile at home. One second he was in a jog and then suddenly he was asked to break off, with the rider hitting him with the crop. Startled and confused, the colt threw the rider and ran off, scraping the rail and suffering cuts on his chest and knees. As a result, the final breeze was not as fast as they knew he could go and they were disappointed when he sold for $40,000, which still was more than four times what they paid for him. Oh, by the way that disappointing eighth of a mile breeze was in a (slow?) :10 2/5.
The buyer, Carlos Luis Perez, took over White Abarrio’s training and debuted the colt at Gulfstream Park on September 24, 2021 under the nom de course Clap Embroidery. Sent off at odds of 12-1 in the 6 1/2-furlong race, he broke slowly from the rail before quickly moving up into fourth. Seemingly trapped behind horses, he charged up between the two leaders nearing the head of the stretch and burst clear at the eighth pole to win by 6 ½ lengths.
Watching in the stands was Mark Cornett of C2 Racing, who was so impressed with what he saw he purchased the colt privately. C2 Racing is owned by brothers Mark and Clint Cornett, and they partnered with Milagrosa Stable, owned by Antonio Pagnano and Carlos Perez, who had stayed in for a minority share. The horse was turned over to Saffie Joseph Jr, who was recommended to the Cornetts by jockey agent Matt Muzikar, a longtime friend of Mark’s.
In December of that year, Spendthrift exported Race Day to Korea. At the time he had sired only three non-graded stakes winners in the U.S. who won the Texas Thoroughbred Futurity, Gottstein Futurity, and Arlington-Washington Lassie as 2-year-olds.
In White Abarrio’s first start for Joseph and the new owners he stretched out to a mile and this time wired his field to win by four lengths. Put in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes, he ran well to finish third.
He began his 3-year-old campaign by winning the Holy Bull Stakes by 4 1/4 lengths, catapulting his Beyer figure from an 80 to a 97. He then established himself as one of the Kentucky Derby favorites by defeating Todd Pletcher’s highly promising colt Charge It by 1 1/2 lengths in the Florida Derby. The $7,500 yearling whose sire was shipped off to Korea had become one of racing’s biggest bargains as he headed to Churchill Downs with four victories in five starts, including a Grade 1 and Grade 3 stakes.
But that turned out to be the high point in White Abarrio’s career. He never received the respect a horse with his accomplishments deserved, as indicated by his 15-1 odds in the Kentucky Derby. Whatever fan base he did have he likely lost after he finished 16th in the Derby, beaten 20 lengths. He was then defeated at odds of 3-2 in a weak Ohio Derby field. That was followed by a disastrous seventh-place finish in the Haskell Invitational, beaten over 34 lengths. Sent off at odds of 29-1 in the Pennsylvania Derby, he went right for the lead, but tired in the stretch to finish fifth, beaten eight lengths.
Given more than two months off, he dropped back to a one-turn mile in the Cigar Mile run over a sloppy track. He was only 7-2 in a six-horse field and bounced back to form, finishing third, beaten only a half-length. But he had every chance to win in the stretch and was unable to match strides with the first two finishers. The following month he hit rock bottom finishing eighth, beaten over 13 lengths over his home track in the Pegasus World Cup. There was no doubt now this was a shell of the horse who had begun his career with so much promise. In his six starts since the Florida Derby he was winless, finishing up the track in four of those starts.
Joseph dropped him into a seven-furlong allowance race as a confidence builder and White Abarrio, favored at 6-5, responded with a 4 1/2-length victory in a sharp 1:22 flat, earning a 103 Beyer figure, the first triple-digit Beyer of his career. He was now set for the seven-furlong Carter Handicap as a prep for the Met Mile. But then all hell broke loose. First White Abarrio came down with a fever forcing him to miss the Carter. While at Churchill Downs, where Joseph was preparing longshot Wood Memorial winner Lord Miles for the Kentucky Derby, two of his horses died suddenly and mysteriously. With Churchill Downs still reeling over several fatal injuries on the track they suspended Joseph indefinitely while investigating the deaths of his two horses and barred Lord Miles from running in the Derby.
Although C2 Racing supported Joseph and kept 12 horses with him, they felt they had no choice but to send White Abarrio to another trainer, not knowing if their nominations and entries would be accepted, and with nominations for the Met Mile about to close.
So White Abarrio was sent to Rick Dutrow, who had recently returned to training following a 10-year suspension, which may have seemed like an odd choice to many considering the circumstances. As it turned out Joseph was reinstated in June after all tests proved inconclusive.
Going into the Met Mile, Milagrosa Stable no longer was a listed owner, with only Antonio Pagnano’s name listed along with C2 Racing Stable. Sent off at 20-1 in the Met Mile in his first start for Dutrow, without whom the story of White Abarrio could not be told, it was obvious the colt still had not convinced the bettors he could handle top class company.
Who is Rick Dutrow?
There have been a number of precedents set in all aspects of the racing industry, but perhaps none quite as dramatic as Dutrow’s 10-year suspension, considering that in the past, 60 days was considered a long ban, and those were pretty rare.
His ban, it has been said, is more cumulative than based on any one or two infractions. Who knows to what extent Dutrow is guiltier than other trainers in bending and sometimes breaking the rules. But throughout his whole life, he’s been the kid who always gets caught with his hands in the cookie jar.
Whether you believe the 10 years is warranted or not, the real shame of it all is that the sport lost an outstanding trainer and horseman, who connected with his horses like few others and had a rare affection for them. He literally became giddy when he talked about them. Anyone who has ever listened to him discuss his horses will tell you there was something very childlike in his feelings toward them.
That doesn’t excuse having disregard for rules and regulations, and there was much speculation based on the performance of his horses. Opinions will vary whether he’s innocent or guilty or whether he simply was a scapegoat in a sport desperately looking to improve its image. Now he has returned when the sport’s image is worse than it was 10 years ago and in no time he’s back on the big stage with a horse who has shown a dramatic turnaround. But White Abarrio may have begun that turnaround in his allowance victory for Joseph. So speculation continues.
Most people in racing had raised eyebrows over Dutrow’s amazing run of victories, especially in major stakes, in the mid-2000s, but there was never any proof that his horses were “juiced.” That is up to each person to decide. As a writer, I can only make judgments and comment on what has already been proven as fact.
Some of the infractions involved the use of medication, but most of them just were minor misdeeds that did not apply to racing performance. To the powers that be, all these infractions added up over the years.
But this is not about Dutrow’s infractions or right and wrong or whether you find him a lovable rascal or a serial transgressor. All the infractions aside, there had to have been a sense of loss, regardless of how one perceived his actions.
On a personal level, there are always going to be people you like and people you don’t like. Many do not like Dutrow because of the poor filtering mechanism between his brain and his mouth. His thoughts, no matter how outrageous, come spewing forth with no line of defense to stop or temper them before they can cause any damage.
Such was the case with Big Brown in 2008 when he announced to the world before the Belmont Stakes that the colt had been on steroids. Even though steroids (Winstrol) were not illegal and many horses, including well-known stakes horses, were on them, it was Dutrow and only Dutrow who uttered the dirty word in public, informing everyone that Big Brown was now off Winstrol.
And then there were the comments he made before the Belmont about his main rival, the Japanese invader Casino Drive.
“I got a chance to see him coming on the track when we were going off,” Dutrow said. “Someone pointed out the horse to me and I watched him run and saw him in person. He can’t beat Big Brown. There’s no way in the world he can beat Big Brown. I’m not worried about that horse anymore. I heard the clockers didn’t understand what the hell they were trying to do with the horse. He is another horse in the race. Big Brown is going to have to school him like he has every other horse he has ever run against. It’s going to be simple.”
Yes, it was a brazen comment, although Casino Drive did suffer a bruised foot the day before the Belmont and was scratched.
But there is another Rick Dutrow that most people have never seen, and it is that person that makes it difficult to accept the fact he was not allowed to be around what he loves the most in life – horses. That was the real shame of it all.
When I think of Dutrow, it’s hard not to see the person who returned to his barn following Big Brown’s victory in the Kentucky Derby and headed straight to the colt’s stall.
“Where is he?” Dutrow asked rhetorically, as if about to greet a long lost friend. “You are the freakin’ man,” he said to Big Brown as he entered the stall. He gave the colt about a dozen affectionate smacks on the neck and then wrapped his arms tightly around his neck for about 30 seconds, as if unable or unwilling to let go. Big Brown never moved as he rested his head on Dutrow’s shoulder.
This was the Rick Dutrow who easily becomes humbled by the equine gifts that have been bestowed upon him.
When Dutrow finally did let go, he noticed something he had never seen before from Big Brown.
“He’s tired,” Dutrow said incredulously. “Look at my boy.” Then directing his attention to the horse, he said, “I finally got you. I finally got you tired. Look at my little buddy. You kicked their ass, Brown.”
It was this Rick Dutrow who stood out on the track, emotionally drained, waiting for Saint Liam to return following his victory three years earlier in the 2005 Breeders’ Cup Classic. He couldn’t stop laughing, sounding like an elated child opening presents on Christmas morning. One second he was letting out screams of joy and the next he was shaking his head in disbelief and trying to hold back tears.
When Saint Liam returned, Dutrow began applauding his horse, knowing this was the last race of his career. “Oh, my God,” he kept repeating. “I can’t explain the feeling. He gives me a feeling I’ve never had before. I owe him everything. He is my boy. I see him every night before I go to bed. And I’m going to miss him so much. Words just can’t describe this horse.”
Perhaps these feelings emerged with such fervor because Dutrow realized what he had to overcome to get there. Many of the hardships he endured were brought on by his need to live life on the edge. That resulted in scrapes with the law for petty crimes in his younger days and substance abuse, all of which led him to a life of despair, with no money for food and having to live out of a tack room at Aqueduct. He was lucky to get to train one horse. He also suffered through the murder of his daughter’s mother and the death of his father, trainer Dick Dutrow Sr.
The elder Dutrow never forgave Rick for wasting his God-given talents, even to the day he died.
“My dad knew Rick was talented,” Dutrow’s brother, Tony, himself a successful trainer, said several years ago “But he never thought he would get anywhere because of his wildness. Ricky was a free spirit from the time he was 13. Everything he’s done in his life has been for the thrill and the excitement. Money doesn’t mean anything to him, believe me. He’d never steal to have more money. He’d steal to see if he could get away with it.”
In the early 2000s, Dutrow had great success, reaching new heights in 2004 when owners began sending him good horses, such as Saint Liam and Offlee Wild. But in 2005, he was slapped with a 60-day suspension, reduced from 120 days for two drug positives and a claiming violation. But the barn continued to flourish and win major races. With success came the accusations that Dutrow was using nefarious methods.
“I don’t pay attention to all the talk,” Dutrow said later that year. “I just try to get the horses there the right way. That’s all I really care about.”
That likely is where his problems began – not paying attention and not caring about anything but his horses and how they perform. He even welcomed the close scrutiny of his barn, insisting he was doing nothing wrong. “We stick to the fundamentals,” he said.
There was no “How to” manual in Dutrow’s training. He did everything by the gut and the horse sense with which he was born. Although he was a natural and he made sure his horses received the best of everything regardless of the cost, in the end he paid for his indiscretions, whether deserved or not.
Then there’s the case of Wild Desert. In the Spring of 2005, Dutrow picked up the Canadian-bred colt when trainer Ken McPeek temporarily dispersed his stable and the son of Wild Rush was being pointed to the Queen’s Plate at Woodbine. After officials grew suspicious of betting patterns by Daniel Borislow, Wild Desert’s now-deceased co-owner, Dutrow was told by New York officials he could not stable the horse on NYRA property. As he would later admit to the License Review Committee in Kentucky, Dutrow did it anyway, sending the horse to Aqueduct under an assumed identity. He sent a different horse to Monmouth, where it recorded an official work in Wild Desert’s name. Another time, Wild Desert allegedly breezed before the official clocker arrived.
Because he was suspended at the time of the Queen’s Plate, Dutrow later admitted he sent the horse to Bobby Frankel to act as program trainer for him. Wild Desert won the Queen’s Plate at 3-1 with just two recorded works in the program over 10 weeks, which raised the eyebrows of those at Woodbine. In Dutrow’s mind, all he knew was he needed to get Wild Desert to Aqueduct to get the horse right because that’s where his help was, where his blacksmith was, and where his vet was. That’s the way his mind worked.
It is apparent that Dutrow was no angel if one looks at his “rap sheet,” but he is a gifted horseman and he served his suspension. There definitely has been a resurrection in terms of his career.
Let’s return to the Met Mile. White Abarrio ran a strong race to finish third behind Cody’s Wish, missing second by a head. Did Dutrow have anything to do with his powerful performance in the short time he had him or was the horse returning to his best form following his wake-up allowance score at Gulfstream?
Whatever the reason, the Met Mile set him up perfectly for the Whitney, where he still was an enticing 10-1. No one could have expected what was to come as White Abarrio tracked a slow pace and burst clear of the field after turning for him, drawing off to a 6 1/4-length victory. It was as if his past eight races never happened. He had now put together Beyer speed figures of 103, 106, and 110, with that stunning negative-6 Thoro-Graph number. Herrera was right; he had turned into a monster. For his final work for the Classic he turned in a dazzling five-furlong drill in :59 4/5, flying home his last quarter in about :23.
Now we just have to see how he handles the 1 1/4 miles. It’s been an odd career to say the least, especially for a $7,500 yearling. In less than a week we will find out if we are witnessing one of the most inexplicable rebirths in a number of years, not only by a horse but a trainer.
So regardless of whether you like White Abarrio or not, tune in to any Rick Dutrow interview you can find this week. So far he has kept a very low profile and has rarely been seen in front of a camera. Perhaps he has learned over the past 10 years it’s better to just go about his business and train his horses with less fanfare. We will see how that plays out when the cameras arrive. But you can bet he will have only one thing on his mind all week and that is White Abarrio. And that alone will make the horse very dangerous.
Photos courtesy of Ryan Thompson, Edilberto Herrera, John Dunn, Adam Coglianese
Stay tuned for Thursday’s Breeders’ Cup analysis and longshot picks.
Racing historian, author, and award-winning retired journalist for the Daily Racing Form and The Blood-Horse, Steve Haskin was inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame’s Media Roll of Honor in 2016. Known for his racing knowledge and insightful prose, he has been an exclusive contributor to Secretariat.com since 2020.
Saw several things today that lightened the dark cloud.
Cody Dorman has arrived at Santa Anita. He looks wonderful.
Cody’s Wish on the track this morning. Collected canter and flying change of leads. He looks amazing.
Safe racing Cody.
Photo of Echo Zulu hand grazing again. She looks well. Continued prayers for a full recovery and no setbacks. She looks really good, seems to be holding her weight, shiny coat.
King of Steele is one absolutely stunning looking horse. Cutest photo of trainer’s young daughter sitting on his back.
He and Auguste Rodin both go back to Secretariat on their damside.
Rich Strike headed to Mr Mott’s stable in Florida. He looks strong and in beautiful condition. Good Luck Richie on your return to the track. Hope you do well.
My plans for the weekend include our annual Fall Festival on the Square here on Saturday. Sunday, a movie I have been wanting to see. The theater here has been restored to its original condition, dates back to the 40″s.
Frost on the pumpkins last night.
Hope everyone has a nice weekend and good luck with your bets.
You now run with the Heavenly Herd Rocket.
I am just devastated and have no words.
So so so awful on geaux rocket ride and practical move I am so happy arcangelo is retired and safe ❤️Like most of you I’ve followed horse racing daily since secretariat this has never happened I pray all goes well this weekend and please bring Cody back safe
Nick, very sad news on Geaux Rocket Ride, at peace and out of pain. Safe returns on all no matter if they’re a 1/9 or a 50/1….No more injurys!!!
Lynda, I was thinking of you when I saw that he’d been put down. I feel the same way and have no idea how to go forward with my love for thoroughbreds. Something is really wrong with the genetics of the breed. If the problem is not found and addressed, there will be no horses like the ones that have thrilled us with their speed and gameness.
I’ve been thinking the same thing.
Owner posted on X: Waiting on further evaluation for best course of action. No decision ,ade yet. Thank you all for caring and please keep praying.
(I have paraphrased)
Rest easy Geaux Rocket Ride. Terrible injury to him, didn’t have a good feeling about his plight from the get go. Shocked at Practical Move’s demise. One would think they monitor cardiac info on horses. Two days till the real racing begins hoping we don’t hear about any other injuries.
The horse has NOT be euthanized.
Initial report was issued by DRF before Pin Oak and doctors decided on one more chance for GRR.
Rocket is fighting for his life.
Not going to speak about the misunderstanding.
Only will say not looking good.
DRF retracted their story, about Geaux Rocket Ride…..they now say they misunderstood Mandella?….
Geaux Rocket Ride was put out of his misery..
That’s terrible, I’m so sorry to read that. He was another appealing, likeable horse who had a strong future in racing.
I had no idea what Geaux meant (go), but his name had class, as he did.
DRF pulled their article, Geaux RR wasn’t put to sleep. Here’s hoping he recovers.
Rest easy Geaux Rocket Ride. Terrible injury to him, didn’t have a good feeling about his plight from the get go. Shocked at Practical Move’s demise. One would think they monitor cardiac info on horses. Two days till the real racing begins hoping we don’t hear about any other injuries.
Saturday’s BC Turf Mile, appears to be wide open, with four female horses running against the boys. Songline, one of those females, is the morning line favorite, at 5/2. How often do you see a female favored over the boys in a G1 Turf race?
Two races back, she won the Jasuda Kinen G1, at one mile, in 1:31.20, which is an outstanding time for that distance.
Mawj, at 4/1, is another female contender that comes into this race with a 4 for 4 record this year, so she has to be considered as a serious contender as well. That said, I’ll go with Master of The Seas, at 7/2, as the likely winner of the BC 1 mile Turf. Just my opinion.
Songline and Master of the Seas drew poorly, my all time favorite turf miler was a filly named Sunline, Goldikova and Miesque were dominant milers, fillies compete well with males on turf….
Your points are well taken, however, if Songline and Master of the Seas are as good as their record indicates, then their post position is of little consequence, IMO. And yes indeed, fillies/mares run well against males, on turf, in Euro races, but not so much in graded races in this country. Just my opinion.
I cannot tell you WHY, but …on turf–trip is everything! Not so much on dirt, where a horse can suffer a wide journey, and still win—but on turf if you go wide both turns it’s rare, to win….
We’ll see how the race plays out on Saturday. William Buick, the rider on Master of The Seas, is one of the top turf riders in Euro races and has been for several years. I have full confidence in his ability to place his horse in a good position to be right there when the real running begins.
Then do I have a horse for you. Myfavoritedaughter was wide the entire trip in the 7th at SA on 10/28 and did EXTREMELY well to hold on to 4th after taking the lead at the top of the stretch. You’ll have to watch the replay. FOr a second there, I thought she would win anyway.
If Dutrow wins the Classic, I am probably done with wagering on racing. IMO, it would be huge black eye on the sport if a trainer came off a 10 year ban and won a Classic with a second-tier horse, though with all the scratches and defections, it might be a second-tier field.
If you want to quit, that’s up to you, it won’t be White Abarrio’s fault.
Agreed!
Clown Bob! Are u done raising chaos 24/7 ?
Wouldn’t you know, I actually stuck up for you yesterday when your old friend was throwing you under the bus. Yeah, it weirded me out too. If you’re trying to start something, I will not get into anything here with you out of respect for Steve. You know where to find me.
lmao! Guess u were in a coma. Been off HRN since ’20. U use 50 names, I use one.
LOL, you still singing that song. I have one name. Same as it is here. Good luck this weekend.
You are so funny, living in denial that everyone can’t see who you are!
Not a one Triple Crown runner made the Classic….
Will Japan’s big guy say sayonara?…
Maybe The Breeders Cup could have Jenna hand out the Classic trophy, and Tim and Millie hand hot the Dirt Mile Trophy, it would get a big cheer….
Ushba Tesero had a strong workout this morning. Now if they get his starting gate issues put to bed, he might have a good chance to win.
Zandon looked really sharp in his last work.
Tamara rather lackluster, not changing leads.
Cody’s Wish looked great in his last work. So hope he wins for young Cody.
Just not excited about the Classic. Arcangelo, Geaux Rocket Ride and Zandon were my picks. Down to Zandon with Frsnkie Dettori up.
The turf races are the exciting ones, in my humble opinion.
Will not be watching. Simply cannot watch another horse go down. As of right now, the BC is probably my last dirt race series, focus now on turf especially on International level.
This has been a horrendous year for horse racing. Racing gods, if you are listening; enough is enough amd that is too much!
Not meaning to be a Debbie Downer on American dirt racing, but when the joy has faded, time to let it go.
No news on GRR since his setback. Hopefully no news is good news.
Good luck everyone on your picks and prayers for safe trips for all.
Lynda I saw Tamara’s work and you could not see her lead change it was that smooth …did she work again? The one I saw she was smooth and reaching out …
Just going by clockers report Mathew W.
Sorry, did not spell Matthew correctly.
Her work before last was uninspiring…the other day I was impressed . .I look forward to seeing her, she’s done nothing wrong but—while she’s the same color as her mama she’s far smaller than her—I know its a good story, but mama won three Breeders Cup races, Tamara needs to win this to start the comparison game! Fingers crossed! Hang in there, Lynda your posts are little treasures!..
Agree, she is more feminine than Beholder. She has a lovely head and kind eyes.
Beholder as I recall could be a handful. So far Tamara comes across as having a softer disposition.
Mike has a way with the fillies. Glad he is her jockey.
Was not knocking her by any means, hope you know that.
Hope she wins, but more importantly that she has a safe trip.
I cannot begin to imagine how hard it is on the jockeys when something happens to their horse during the race or during a workout.
Many of the jockeys have a great love for these horses and share a bond with them that lasts long after they retire.
What a horrible week, and what a horrible toll. We are all grieved by these losses, especially Practical Move’s death and Geaux Rocket Ride’s life
As others have mentioned, the inevitable early retirements are to be expected these days. Will Mage come back as a 4YO? We can hope.
I am almost afraid to watch any of the BC this year. May the horse gods protect the horses and the riders.
I guess my wish now is that White Abarrio or Zandon wins the Classic.
Thanks, Steve, for giving us a place to share memories.
sorry, edit to read ‘Geaux Rocket Ride’s life-threatening injury’
Another great piece, thanks. I do have a question, what does this mean: ‘the nom de course Clap Embroidery’? Did WA not have a name yet? I didn’t think you could change a horse’s name especially if he’d placed in a race. I did google, but everything that came up was in French (and I, being a good American, only speak English -ha ha).
I too thought that 10 years was a bit much as a punishment especially since there were many other trainers doing ‘questionable’ practices. What annoyed me about Rick was, in a Big Brown interview, he said ‘I don’t even know what Winstrol does, the vet said to give it to him so I did’. If your ‘trainer’ doesn’t know what something does, they should not be training, in my opnion. I suspect Rick knew what it was/did and just thought he could get away with the ‘ignorance excuse’. I did read some articles about him that made me feel like he was a guy who loved his horses (the sleeping in the barn, stuff about his daughter, etc).
Don’t know how much of the BC I’ll see this year, since I’m not finding much info on where to watch and not sure if I can get whatever station is broadcasting. I need to look into Fanduel tv, I guess.
I hope it’s a safe day for racing.
I don’t have Fanduel either and I have no plans to get it. But I read that Friday’s races are on USA from 4:00 to 8:00 PM ET. If you have cable, you probably have USA. On Saturday USA covers the Breeder’s Cup from 1:30 to 3:30 PM ET and then NBC picks it up from 3:30 to 7:00 PM ET. Since two of the races are run after 7:00, I don’t know what happens then. I guess I just don’t get to see them, and I’d like to see Elite Power in the Sprint. Anyway, good luck watching what you can get.
The Breeders’ Cup website have all the races live and the commentry is usually infinately more pleasurable to listen to. The Santa Anita website is worth checking out as well.
Thank you, Davids. If the Breeder’s Cup website is showing all the races, hopefully I can see the last two there. And it will be interesting to check out the commentary. I can’t imagine a TV network buying up all the events and then not showing two of them. But I shouldn’t be surprised at anything NBC does.
Jiffy, it wouldn’t surprise me that you ditched the NBC coverage and watched the coverage from the Breeders’ Cup. Less chatter, more coverage of the horses – bliss. Have a great time watching the races.
Got the chills halfway through article when I remembered Dutrow trained Kip Deville, who I liked in the BC mile in 07 and either hit the trifecta or .10 super, cant recall lol. But ironically i have a strong hunch for White Abbario Sat and they both were gray/white hores.
I’m sad, like many are, for Practical Move and his trainer and family. He was an appealing, up and coming horse, it’s disturbing they can’t find a cardiac problem in a horse before it causes death. He was squeaky clean and everybody liked him. It’s a true pity to lose such a fine horse from the racing scene.
Beautifully put..
The Breeders’ Cup has become a monster where no other races matter. Once celebrated races are either preps or opportunities for mediocre horses to become grade 1 winners. Maybe trainers like Wayne Lukas, and before him Woody Stephens, had it right. Run them whenever they are ready, because they may not be ready or able on the one big day. As for Arcangelo, another predictable waste.
lol Lukas is wrong, 24/7.
Steve, your header might be more prophetic than you intended. I really enjoyed reading your article above, marvelous writing as we expect. Thanks again.
I’m just shocked by what has happened over the past 24 hours that the enthusiasm for the Breeders’ Cup races is frankly, diminishing rapidly.
Looking forward to your assessments of the various races and possible bombs to reignite my interest. Stay safe.
The demise of horse racing as we know is on is on the horizon.
Between Saratoga, Churchill Downs & now Santa Anita. Every year during the Kentucky Derby trail we expect a few horses to get banged up & miss the race. But these past 4 months have been devastating to our sport.
Plus the continued careless riding of one Irad Ortiz gives horse racing a black eye. I wouldn’t let Ortiz Jr. ride my mule.
Deacon, agree! Irad is a punk!
Just a crazy week for top three year olds …no wins here, Practical Move passes…Go Rocket Ride in dire straits and Arcangelo retired— Maybe there will be good news about GRR, mehopes…..
I personally have never been so happy to see a horse retired we need arcangelo safe
Really? He kicked a wall, that happens, and horses can have heart attacks, those happen….times like this need resolve, Go Rocket Ride and Echo Zulu broke down, but Forte and Arcangelo could have continued racing, their injuries were minimal…
Arcangelo had heat in heel and elevated digital pulse in that leg on Saturday. Both CAN be an indication of a more serious condition. For example an elevated digital pulse and heat in a hoof COULD be laminitis.
Per Jenna it was going the right direction, pulse was down and not as much heat in heel.
During interview today she said that diagnostics on the issue would require some level of sedation.
That would indicate tests including x-rays and ultra sounds.
Jenna also said that there would be the matter of the meds clearing his system.
In all probability had she not scratched him, the track vets would probably have scratched him.
IMHO, Jenna and the owners made the right decision to scratch him.
As to retirement in all probability he would have been retired after the BC anyway or after the Pegasus. He is a very valuable colt in that there were only a few crops by Arrogate.
In most cases I do not agree with many of these colts being retired at 3. It hurts the sport, there being so few older horses or colts returning at 4. But in this situation, I agree with retiring him.
There is a slight possibility that he might come back for Pegasus (just me thinking out loud) if all the tests come back clean.
We are all on the outside looking in and are not always privy to all the information.
I believe Jenna. She was close to tears during the interview. I stand behind her and the decision 100%.
Lynda I am with you arcangelo is needed to be safe
Latest is that Arcangelo is now retired.
That popped up on my phone too. What happened to running him at 4? A rhetorical question. Already know the answer.
Wonderful piece, Steve, really a fascinating story. I’ve always liked and followed White Abarrio – I’ll admit I’m always drawn to the grays, but there was something extra about him and I can’t say what it was when he was not doing so well. Like others, I was surprised that he went to Dutrow, but my feeling is he did his time, and I’m not going to judge him – in my opinion he has a clean slate now. With the BC Classic shape changing almost daily (Geaux Rocket Ride, who was my pick, and Mage), and now Practical Move, I’m looking a little more seriously at White Abarrio to at least get a piece.
And back to Practical Move – heartbreaking. And my hopes for a complete recovery for GRR and Echo Zulu. In some respects, this has been a tough year, what with Saratoga, etc. Let’s hope for a clean and safe Breeders’ Cup.
Thanks again, Steve, for a very interesting piece. I always look forward to Tuesdays.
Thank you Beth. What a terible week this has been. It’s been really tough on the TVG/Fanduel reporters. Emotional for them, going though all those emotional highs and lows
Arcangelo out of BCC
The Breeders’ Cup has now become the Survival Cup.
SMH. Either that or CHD, Preakness, Saratoga 2.0.
Well crap. I don’t guess I will be tuned in then. This column has been the only thing keeping me focused on horse racing. Too many drugs, unexplained horse deaths, suspicious trainers have pretty much ruined the sport for me. I am of the age which gave us Dr. Fager, Damascus, Buckpasser, Ruffian, Personal Ensign, Secretariat, Seattle Slew, Affirmed, and Alydar so for me to finally get turned off is sad.
Sharon, I am just about at the end as well.
I can’t remember a BC Classic in such disarray. White Abarrio is looking better to me all the time.
Practical Move suffered a medical episode this morning at SA during gallop.
Gone. Heartbreaking.
Just a battering ram, to the hopes of Tim and Millie, who were on cloud nine, after his last work …and to lose him suddenly, after his gallop—horse never lost a two turn race…..
So so so sad on Practical move
Oh my goodness. My condolences to all who loved and cared for Practical Move.
I’m so sorry to see this. Condolences to Practical Move’s connections. He was the ‘local’ horse I was targeting in the Mile. A heart attack? Damn it. Like most everyone else I getting sick to see this happen time after time-which by the way does seem to happen in an imprtant race (Saratoga) or leading up to an important race (BC).
John, this has got to be the most tragic year for horse racing in recent memory.
I’d agree, if only cuz so many top lever horses suffered career and life ending events …Horse Racing is the sport of heart breaking losses and enormous victories ….
I agree. It seems as if every major race/meet this year has come accompanied by not one, but several losses. Simply awful.
This poor, majestic horse. I only hope that he felt no pain. Can you imagine watching that happen, or being up, or hot walking, going “what the hell, horse? What are you doing?” And then he’s dead. And his stall is empty, and his haynet is ready, and his feed is scooped, but… To Practical Move’s shedrow people and owners, I am so sorry.
I have so much love and respect for everyone who posts here. Steve, thank you most of all for the pleasure I’ve had reading the articles here and at the old site, and watching the Handicapping posts on YouTube. I don’t know if I can watch or follow this sport anymore. I’m a life-long fan, and it breaks my heart… but this sport is only breaking my heart, it isn’t lifting me up anymore.
May the rest of these warriors come home safely, both 2 and 4-legged. May horse racing change to find a better way, not just to make changes. May the ones we know about – and the ones we don’t – heal and grow strong again. May I find my way back one day when my heart can take it, and I am no longer sad and afraid to see.
Beautiful post Katy. Your thoughts are comforting.
We all feel the same way. Thank you.
Did NOT see that. Terrible. I loved that horse.
I never met Rick Dutrow but through this all, I was and am a big fan of his.
I’ve read that people were perplexed with all the choices of trainers that C2 would go from Saffie Joseph Jr. to Rick Dutrow for White Abarrio.
I remember a long long time ago an interview with Rick about a horse that he said he had to baby because of his “bargain basement hooves”. If you ever run into Rick, ask him which horse that was. As far as the state of WA’s feet/hooves, If anyone can keep them in order, it would be Rick.
In his younger years he had bad boy moments and might always be a bit of a free spirit but he has that feel for what to do with each horse that you just can’t teach to someone.
One of the best trainers in the game .he is bold he is brash and has a big mouth..but he backs it up. my money is on Dutrows horse. with a saver exacta bx with the Japanese horse
I wouldn’t saw Arcangelo is going to be out….he kicked his stall which is a good sign, but he lost a shoe—nailing a new one can cause some getting used to…. tomorrow will be telling, I think they’ll enter …
It’s not a matter of condition he’s dead fit had his final work–just needs to be ok in that hot spot ..
Great piece Steve. I have to admit I had a hard on for Rick over the Wild Desert scandal. mainly due to having published workout in the DRF, which I considered to be fraud and the fact that rules let him pick when to take the suspension the Monday after Breeder’s Cup. I don’t regret it but I’m the guy who made the call in to Byk and the fireworks started. In 2008 before the Derby I told Byk I would kiss Big Brown’s ass if he won. Well he did and there is is photo of me kissing Big Brown’s ass in the Kentucky Derby Museum. As far as I’m concerned he did his time and good luck to him! I’m kind of routing for White Abarrio with Zandon and the Japanese horses. Good Luck Rick!
Thaks. That photo doesnt sound like your typical museum artifact.
Went to the museum the Sunday after Derby and my wife took the shot and asked what are you doing, my response was I’m a man of his word. LOL
I avoid using the term “lock”, but Tamara (BC Juvenile Fillies)) comes real close to that analogy. By Bolt d’Oro, out of Beholder, Tamara’s class was clearly on display in her impressive Del Mar Debutante win. Per trainer, Richard Mandella, “I’d say she’s ahead of Beholder at this stage”. That in itself speaks volumes.
Candied and Chatalas appear to be Tamara’s main competition.
I’ll key Tamara on top, with those two underneath, in a fairly large Trifecta wager.
Safe trips to all.
Excellent read Steve, all your blogs are fascinating to read. IMO White Abarrio is a nice colt & he may be the best horse in the BCC but he is far from being a great. I followed him early in the Derby Rankings last year but obviously much like Gun Runner (to a lesser degree) WB got very good this year. I don’t know much about Rick Dutow. He does well with many of his horses so he must know what he is doing.
I don’t feel that Charge It is that classy of a horse & Codys Wish is an excellent horse up to a mile.
WB might win the BCC but I am sticking with 2 of the 3 year olds, Archangelo & Arabian Night.
Good luck to all.
The 2008 Triple Crown races could be the opening backdrop for a movie about Rick Dutrow and Kent Desormeaux. It’s almost as if there was some sort of bad karma in control.
Eight Bells’ tragic breakdown and being euthanized on the track, the first ever during the Kentucky Derby. The heartbreaking images of that beautiful almost filly black filly who ran her heart out struggling to rise with two fractured ankles and the bright red jackets of the track officials around her is still as vivid in my mind today as when it happened. Big Brown, favorite to win the Belmont and the Triple Crown being eased during the race and coming in last. No explanations other than Desormeaux claiming he had no horse. Eventual suspensions for two talented figures, Dutrow and Desormeaux for drugs; Dutrow for drugging the horses and Desormeaux for drugging himself, both falling from grace. Both trying to find redemption, first Desormeaux time after time and now Dutrow with White Abarrio. Intertwined is the story of Joseph Saffie Jr’s suspension by CHD and White Abarrio moving to Dutrow.
Always thought 10 years was to the extreme.
I have always liked White Abarrio. He has, as mentioned, matured into a stunning Thoroughbred and proven that he does indeed have what it takes to be a champion. He too has somewhat of a dark shadow lurking about, however, questions about his soundness. Articular injections resulting in being placed on vet’s list and missing workouts while his owner said the latest one had to do with his shoes.
Next is all the drama surrounding this year’s Breeders Cup. Two horses out and retired, fighting for their lives as the result of fractures; Echo Zulu and Geaux Rocket Ride and questions about the track at Santa Anita.
You can’t make up a more compelling story and life is stranger than fiction.
Thank you Steve for this backstory on Rick and White Abarrio.
One question, what did Rick do the ten years he was suspended?
Takes courage I think to try and make a comeback at anything after ten years.
Best of luck to Rick and White Abarrio in the Classic.
Very good post Lynda. Life & redemption is about foregiveness & learning ones lessons. Not too many people can recover from drugs or escape the monkey as it is said. I felt at the time 10 years was a pretty harsh sentence.
Personally, I think trainers should have smaller stables. Best way to control what is going on around you.
I am not sure if White Abarrio has won at 10 furlongs. Archangelo has won at both 10 & 12 furlongs and Arabian Night has won at 10 furlongs. Home track advantage may also play a factor in the race as well.
Eastern horses don’t come west much anymore. Especially since Hollywood Park closed down.
Basically I have lost 90% of my interest & passion for horse racing. Steve’s blogs is what keeps it alive for me.
Good wishes on your bets.
Good luck to you as well Deacon.
I agree about smaller stables and yes, trainers are much more hands on and not so dependent on assistant trainers.
Also agree there is the home track advantage at play in the BC.
With GRR out and some concern, though minimal per Jenna, about Arcangelo, I might be rethinking my Classic winners.
Like you I have lost much of my interest in the sport but have stepped up my interest in turf on International level.
Equinox was sublime in the race in Japan over the weekend..
T he one thing I still enthusically look foward to is Steve’s writing.
Late News: Arcangelo on the cusp of scratching out of the BC Classic.
Per Jenna he pulled a shoe a few days ago. Little warmth in heel. Getting better each day. No time established for replacing shoe. Walking twice a day. She did officially enter him in the Classic today.
You gotta be kidding me, the hits just keep coming 🙁
I’m looking at a four horse trifecta box of Arabian Knight, Ushba Tesoro, White Abarrio, Proxy—I think Arcangelo is not good enough—I also hear he hasn’t been on the track for two days (ohoh..)..
I know little, of New York Racing, except Brown is good and Irad is great…but I’ve a long time friend who knows Rick, he said the 10-year suspension was ridiculous, a travesty… therapeutic overages, by a free spirited guy who rubs the powers that be wrong–sounds like a certain trainer out west—I’ve always been leery of horses that jump way up in performance….even great horses have trouble repeating a great performance… Secretariat could…Bid….and Flightline only ran great performances…but most horses that run huge numbers do not repeat them, he did look very good, in his final work, and Id love to see the man reach the mountain top, again….
We’ve seen in recent years what happens when you don’t bow before the powers that be, and not just in racing. And Dutrow is fun, which racing could use right now. I’ll be rooting for him.
Yes, Rick Dutrow was/is very amusing at times and an excellent trainer per Saint Liam but at other times it seemed hard to believe that a trainer would do such ‘stupid’ things especially at that period in racing when owners/trainers/fans were agog of what appeared to be going on in racing.
I’d like Dutrow and White Abarrio to win as well both seemed to get a rough deal.
True. Dutrow seems sometimes to be the guy who finds himself in a hole and keeps digging, but i’ll admit to enjoying the show.
I believe that White Abarrio will win the classic, even though I love Archangelo, something tells me that Dutrow will show the world he’s back.
A disappointing update for Geaux Rocket Ride…”Rocket is having an unexpected response to the surgery and isn’t recovering as we hoped. He appears to be in no pain and is eating. Our boy is stilling fighting and we will keep fighting for him….”
Per Pin Oak Stud on X.
He is being moved to another facility that can better accommodate his recovery needs.
That fact that he is still eating is a good sign, beyond that this development is very concerning.
Continued thoughts and prayers.
I so badly want to know more about Geaux Rocket Ride, and what is actually going on. There has been a big difference in how open, specific, and quick with updates Winchell has been with Echo Zulu (and Epicenter last year), and the radio silence we’ve had on Rocket. It’s always easier to give the public good news, and I am worried. I want to know, darn it!
Thanks for writing such a well written and thoroughly researched article about White Abarrio and Rick Dutrow. What a blessing that Dutrow returned from being persona non grata for 10 years to having a horse contending in the Breeders Cup Classic. Dutrow has been labeled as the bad boy of horse racing and has been hated by many horse racing fans. However, he is an excellent horseman and has received the highest praise from a revered Kentucky Equine Orthopedic Specialist: Dr. Larry Bramlage. Dr. Bramlage stated that that Dutrow is the only trainer he testified on behalf of (in the appeal of NYRA’s decision) and that he recognized problems with his horses sooner than anyone else.
I have been a Big Brown and Dutrow fan since I first saw him win an allowance race at Gulfstream Park. Big Brown’s professionalism and talent had been incredible; I thought I was looking at a Triple Crown contender.
I wishing White Abarrio and Rick Dutrow the best in the Breeders Cup Classic. I feel that the spirits of Saint Liam and his daughter, Havre de Grace, will be cheering White Abarrio on.
Thanks Terri. No doubt Rick is very polarizing.
White Abarrio may be for real — especially with Rick Dutrow as his trainer — but I’ve never seen him hook a really talented horse and win. Your post really caught my attention when you got to Dutrow’s story. Fascinating stuff, but how could he be so dumb that he stabled (and worked!) a horse under a bogus name? That’s 19th century cattle rustlin’ stuff. I missed the Whitney, so I’ll go back and watch that race, which obviously is a key one for the Classic.
Can’t wait to read your picks for Friday and Saturday, Steve. Wonderful column, as always.
I didn’t really follow racing much 10 yrs ago so I can’t comment on his past. I like WA but the state of his feet and his aborted works are kind of concern. I hope the horse runs a big and safe race!
WA should run big on Saturday, i’ll say he hits the trifecta. Should sit right behind the early speed of Saudi Crown and Arabian Knight.
I liked White Abarrio last year, despite his slide from top form, and am glad to see him back doing well. Many will be whispering about Dutrow, but perhaps part of this change is the difference between a 3YO colt and a more mature 4YO horse. “Edilberto Herrera, who broke and trained the colt and prepped him for the OBS 2-year-old sale had followed him closely during those early races, but admitted when he saw him in the paddock before the Whitney he was amazed how much he had bulked up from the previous year and thought, “Wow! He looks like a monster.” “
It’s amazing what happens when you give them time to grow up and mature. Loved this column!
Very true, Jo Anne. Thanks
Quite a piece of writing, impressive and detailed if a bit disturbing. You could have given Dashiell Hammett a run for his money if you went into detective fiction. As a fan of White Abarrio, I thank you for the positive take, there seem to be many against him, but I think he’ll run well at good odds. He seems like a healthy and pretty game fellow who can switch tracks with no problem and he has the experience. I think he’ll get the distance with aplomb.
I didn’t follow racing before Dutrow was suspended so I never knew why he was considered a good trainer. He strikes me as a squirelly, kind of crazy guy but I’m assuming White Abarrio’s as pure as the driven snow.
Thanks, I could have been if the Maltese Falcon was white. I never assume anything when it comes to R/ick Dutrow, but I tend to believe having just returned that White Abarrio squeaky clean. Rick was considered a very good trainer because his horses ran great and looked great, often when their form wasnt that great. And boy was he enterating in a wacky way.