Mister Abarrio gets a nice chunk of Colonial cash

Add Saffie Joseph Jr. to the list of trainers who like to take advantage of the cash handed out at the Colonial Downs meeting. Saffie struck quickly in a $72,000 allowance race with his consistent 5-year-old Neolithic gelding, Mister Abarrio, and owner Skymac profited to the tune of $43,200.

Micah Husbands was in the irons aboard the $30,000 OBS October yearling, who was coming into the one-mile test over the inner turf course off a second and a first, and went off at 5/2. Micah allowed the gelding to sit comfortably in mid-pack on the rail down the backstretch, and Mister Abarrio began to close coming to the final turn. He was blocked briefly, then swung wide for the stretch run where he inhaled the leaders and won going away by 1 1/4 lengths.

He was clocked in 1:35.94, paid $7.60, and raised his earnings to $251,510 on an imposing record of 5-7-11 in 31 starts, with $85,370 coming this year.