Longines Breeders' Cup Classic

Trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. capped his comeback from a 10-year suspension when White Abarrio fended off Japan-based Derma Sotogake by one length in the $6 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Nov. 4 at Santa Anita Park.

Dutrow ranks as one of the sport’s most controversial figures. He paid a huge price for repeated medication violations with a lengthy suspension. But he is making the most of his second chance by reminding everyone of his training acumen.

White Abarrio ran big – just as Dutrow was telling everyone that he would – to give the conditioner his second Classic victory. The first came with Saint Liam in 2005. Dutrow, a proud member of a racing family, also oversaw Big Brown, the 2008 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner.

White Abarrio, a 4-year-old Race Day colt, was making only his third start for his new barn. He is owned by C2 Racing Stable and La Milagrosa Stable. Dutrow had him for only a short time before he ran third in the June 10 Hill ‘n’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap. The 2022 Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa winner stepped up his game in a big way when he dominated the Aug. 5 Whitney Stakes by 6 ¼ lengths at Saratoga.

Then, “The White Horse,” as his trainer likes to call him, made his case for Horse of the Year by by sitting comfortably in third behind pacesetting Arabian Knight and then proving he could handle an additional furlong in the mile-and-a-quarter Classic. He covered the distance in 2:02.87 for jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. as the 2.60-1 favorite.

So is the Classic winner Horse of the Year?

“If I was voting and I was sitting on a panel, I would vote for him,” said Dutrow. “But I’m not, so I can’t say that. I can say he’s my horse of the decade, and we’re not done.”

The Horse of the Year debate has only just begun. Clint Cornett, who owns C2 racing with his brother, Mark, did not weigh in on that matter. But he said, “I hope this horse after this race gets the respect it deserves, right? Because I think he has been a little bit overlooked.”

White Abarrio, previously conditioned by Saffie Joseph Jr., started this season inauspiciously. He was no better than eighth, beaten by 13 ½ lengths, in the Jan. 28 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes Presented by Baccarat won by Art Collector at Gulfstream Park. He rebounded to win a seven-furlong allowance race on March 4 at Gulfstream in an effort to rebuild his confidence.

Dutrow eagerly looked ahead to next season, with big money races out there such as the Pegasus, the Saudi Cup and the Dubai World Cup. “We’re licking our lips right now,” he said.

According to Dutrow, he took baby steps to get White Abarrio to the top of the heap. “You just make little jumps here and there as you’re going along and you guys see what can happen,” he said. “There were no big moves we made with this horse. We glued his shoes on and we fed him more food. That’s it.”

Dutrow had been twice forced to alter the colt’s pre-Classic workout schedule due to foot issues. He credited preeminent blacksmith Ian McKinlay with getting everything back on track. “Ian’s the best,” he said.

Grade 1 winner Proxy took third. Arabian Knight wilted to be fourth with Japan’s Ushba Tesoro coming in fifth. Ushba Tesoro had won six consecutive starts, including the Dubai World Cup Presented by Emirates Airline.

Dutrow said many people in the racing world have made him feel welcome again. “Even people I was enemies with, they would say, ‘Rick, I don’t care about the past, man. You got treated wrong and I’m so happy for you now.’ I feel good about that.”

The trainer said he made the unusual move of breezing the horse at 5 a.m. the day of the Classic. He believes that made a huge difference from a mental standpoint.

“I think this horse went into a zone,” he said. “He didn’t say a word all day long, not a word. Walking over here, he walked just like he did in the Whitney. Head down, didn’t care about nothing. I think this horse gets in a zone when he knows he’s in (a race). And I freakin’ love it. That means he is just all in.”

Dutrow, who lost various appeals during his suspension, has been all in since he was allowed to return. But it is not easy to pick up after a 10-year gap. He has said he struggled with decisions more than usual. His stock leaves much to be desired after “The White Horse.”

“I don’t have a stable packed with really good horses and that’s what I want and I’m going to be striving for it,” he said. “I’m going to be calling everybody tomorrow when I get done with Disneyland and say, ‘Hey, I’m ready for some horses here. Can you guys send me some horses?’”

In a tip of the cap to Dutrow, as colorful as he is controversial, he might just as well have said, “I’m back, babe.”