Saffie Joseph Jr. wrapped his arm softly around White Abarrio Pegasus prep hopes with the kind of quiet confidence only history earns. It was a light moment outside the barn at Gulfstream Park, a pat between trainer and champion, and a reminder of how far the pair have travelled together. As the new Championship Meet draws close, Joseph looks set to follow a tested path — and the horse that crowned him on the grandest stage is again at the centre of it.
The Pegasus World Cup hero will sharpen for his January defence the same way he did last year — through the seven-furlong Mr. Prospector on December 27. The set-up feels familiar. Last season he closed powerfully for second over the shorter trip, only to come back weeks later and dominate the Pegasus World Cup by a remarkable 6¼ lengths. Joseph is not tinkering with what already worked.
“This is the plan — same as last year,” he said, reflecting on his championship season and the horse who changed his professional life. “Seven-eighths to start, Pegasus the goal. He gives you confidence.”
White Abarrio Pegasus prep Path Mirrors Last Year’s Rise
White Abarrio’s story reads like a modern highlight reel. Winner of the Curlin Florida Derby in 2022, then the Whitney and the Breeders’ Cup Classic the following year, he returns as a horse of expectation rather than wonder. The Pegasus World Cup, set for January 24, marks the tenth running of the event — a fitting backdrop for the champion seeking to defend his crown.
“He’s been my career, really,” Joseph admitted, voice warming with something close to gratitude. “A horse like this, with people knowing his name around the world — he’ll always be special.”
While White Abarrio takes the headlines, Joseph’s stable strength runs deeper. Skippylongstocking, who chased home his stablemate last season, will prep through the Harlan’s Holiday on December 20 before advancing to the Pegasus. His 2025 highlight already stands tall — victory in the Hollywood Gold Cup. Joseph speaks of him with the same measured confidence: “He’s doing well. He’s on target.”
And behind them, the next wave — 2-year-olds turning three, unpolished but bright. Solitude Dude flashed brilliance with a 9½-length maiden win, though questions remain about how far he will stretch. Bull by the Horns, almost workmanlike in improvement, rallied over a mile to win second-up. Distance looks like his friend.
“I like our roster,” Joseph said simply. “We have horses who can grow into the season.”
He has already dethroned and then consistently held position over a Hall of Fame force in Todd Pletcher. Now the challenge is to sustain it — not once, but again and again. Judging by the barn’s depth, the ambition feels more practical than bold.
“To do it one time is something. To keep it going — you’re thankful for that,” he said.
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