BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Loco Abarrio, a winner of the $150,000 FTBOA Gil Campbell Memorial at Gulfstream Park in October, returns to stakes action against open company Saturday in the $165,000 Army Mule for 4-year-olds and older going seven furlongs. The Ronald Spatz-trained son of Bridlewood Farm stallion Valiant Minister will be running for a portion of the $15,000 in Florida-bred bonus money included in the purse and presented by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.
Loco Abarrio makes his first start of 2025 after completing last year’s campaign with a fourth behind Florida-bred Big Martini in the $95,000 Marion County on Dec. 7, a seven-furlong test at Tampa Bay Downs that is part of the lucrative FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes program.
The 5-year-old gelding is no stranger to open stakes, however, having finished second to graded stakes-placed Florida-bred Comedy Town in the $96,000 Benny the Bull over a muddy seven furlongs at Gulfstream in August. He was also second to Florida-bred millionaire Octane in the $100,000 Big Drama going six furlongs at Gulfstream Park in May.
A consistent performer throughout his career having finished in the top three in 18 of 23 starts, including six wins, Loco Abarrio has earnings of $398,320 most of which has been earned for owners Mad Dog Racing Stable and Joseph H. Parker.
He was a $15,000 purchase by Carlos L. Perez and Clap Embroidery at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales October Yearling Sale in 2021 where he was consigned by Beth Bayer. He started twice for Clap Embroidery before Spatz and Mad Dog Racing claimed him for $35,000 out of winning maiden race at Gulfstream in November of 2022.
(Loco Abarrio’s OBS Walking Video)
Loco Abarrio is out of Ballyhoo Moon, by Malibu Moon and was bred in Florida by Ashley Godwin’s Rivermont Farm located in Ocala, Fla.
Luis Saez will ride Loco Abarrio from post two.
Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. will saddle Implementation, who exits a second-place finish in the Grade 3 Fred Hooper won by Little Vic going a mile at Gulfstream on Jan. 25. His last victory came on the turf at Kentucky Downs in September with a neck victory in a second condition, $80,000 optional claiming going six-and-a-half furlongs on Sept. 5. Between those two starts, the son of Constitution was ninth in the $150,000 Turf Sprint Championship at Aqueduct gong six furlongs on Nov. 9.
Implementation is owned by Kenneth L. Ramsey and has won six of 24 career starts with three seconds and five thirds while banking $459,441.
Tyler Gaffalione will ride from post three.
Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher comes into the Army Mule with Gordian Knot, the richest among the ten entrants with earnings of $544,105.
In his only start this year, Gordian Knot was third after a bumpy start in the $125,000 Gulfstream Park Sprint won by Super Chow going six furlongs on Feb. 22.
His last victory also came against state-breds in Pennyslvania in the $100,000 Jump Start going seven furlongs at Parx Racing in August.
Gordian Knot is owned by Joseph Imbesi of Belleview, Fla. and is by Imbesi Florida sire Social Inclusion out of the Florida-bred mare Mia, by Put It Back.
Irad Ortiz Jr. takes the call on Gordian Knot and will break from post five.
Rounding out the field are Howgreatisnate with Javier Castellano in the saddle, Junior Alvarado will ride Knightsbridge, Of a Revolution will have jockey Edgard Zayas, Edgar Perez takes the call on Great Navigator, Inveigled will have Paco Lopez up, Playmea Tune has Edwin Gonzalez named the ride and Ronnie Allen Jr. will guide Going Up.
Return to the March 25 issue of Wire to Wire
