Joseph outlines what’s next for White Abarrio, Soul of an Angel

White Abarrio, 0-for-2 this year after finishing fifth in the Grade 1 Met Mile on June 8, is getting a freshening.

The 5-year-old son of Race Day started his career in the care of trainer Carlos Perez before the colt was privately purchased and transferred to Saffie Joseph Jr. He made 11 starts for Joseph, winning four of them, including the Holy Bull (G3), the Florida Derby (G1) and a pair of optional-claiming races allowance races, all at Gulfstream Park.

Before White Abarrio’s third-place effort in last year’s Metropolitan Mile at Belmont Park, he was transferred to conditioner Rick Dutrow Jr.’s barn, where he remained for the rest of the year, winning the Whitney (G1) and the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

This year, White Abarrio traveled to try his hand at the Saudi Cup (G1) and finished a non-threatening 10th. He returned stateside for another try in the Met Mile, which was won by National Treasure.

Following that effort, the grey was transferred back to Joseph, who was very happy and grateful to have the horse in his care again.

“Glad to get him back into our barn. I am thankful to the owners who sent him back. It meant a lot,” Joseph said. “We felt appreciation in that aspect.”

White Abarrio was not in the barn long before getting kicked out to the farm for a little break.

“He is going to stay there a couple of weeks. He will probably start back breezing here around the end of the meet,” Joseph said.

Joseph said nothing is wrong physically with the horse, but he felt it would be best for him to get a break from training to help him return to peak form.

The circled target for White Abarrio is the Pegasus World Cup (G1) held in January at Gulfstream Park, which is Joseph’s home base.

“The Pegasus is kind of the long-term goal. He will run before that, we just don’t know where yet,” Joseph, Jr. said. “Hopefully he will get back to his top form. He is a world class horse.”

Joseph returned to Saratoga on Saturday night from a trip to the Jersey Shore, where he sent Soul of an Angel to a close second in the Molly Pitcher (G3) at Monmouth Park.

Soul of Angel was last seen finishing fifth to Randomized in the Ogden Phipps (G1) on June 8 at Saratoga. Before that start, the 5-year-old Atreides mare won the Ruffian (G2) on May 4 at Belmont at the Big A.

In the Molly Pitcher, Soul of Angel lined up against reigning champion older dirt female Idiomatic for dual Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox. Setting mild fractions on the front end, Idiomatic walked the field through a 25.57-second opening quarter and a 50.27 half. Soul of an Angel, piloted by Irad Ortiz Jr., ranged up alongside Idiomatic and Florent Geroux at the three-quarter pole and stuck a head in front. A thrilling stretch battle ensued and ended with Idiomatic prevailing by a short head.

“She ran big. She ran a winning race, just met a champion. It was a great horse race. I gained more respect for her than anything. I feel overjoyed that she could put up that kind of performance,” Joseph said.

Soul of an Angel might have a date with her returning rivals from the Ogden Phipps (G1) later in the Saratoga meet in the Personal Ensign (G1) contested at 1 1/8 miles for older fillies and mares on Aug. 23.