OZONE PARK, N.Y. – If all goes to plan, the second half of White Abarrio’s 5-year-old campaign will look exactly likely that of his 4-year-old season. White Abarrio, the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner who disappointed in the $20 million Saudi Cup in February, is being pointed to the Grade 1, $1 million Metropolitan Handicap at Saratoga on June 8, trainer Rick Dutrow said Sunday. A good performance there will likely lead to a start in the Grade 1 Whitney on Aug. 3 followed by a return to Southern California for the Breeders’ Cup Classic, this year being held at Del Mar on Nov. 2. “That’s what seems to be a natural, mapped-out plan for the horse,” Dutrow said. “I’m not trying to do anything other than let the horse get ready for a race and hopefully it’s the Met Mile, and then we go from there.” Last year, in his first start for Dutrow after being transferred from Saffie Joseph Jr., White Abarrio finished third in the Met Mile at Belmont Park. He then won the Whitney by 6 1/4 lengths in arguably his best performance. Three months later, White Abarrio won the BC Classic at Santa Anita. White Abarrio made his seasonal debut in the $20 million Saudi Cup on Feb. 24, but finished a disappointing 10th. Dutrow said he still doesn’t have a plausible excuse for the dull performance. :: Bet with the Best! Get FREE All-Access PPs and Weekly Cashback when you wager on DRF Bets. “We have not seen anything with this horse that any horseman does not want to see, so I have no idea why he didn’t show up in Saudi,” Dutrow said. Last Saturday, White Abarrio had his first workout since the Saudi Cup, going a half-mile in 47.47 seconds over the Belmont training track. It was the sixth-fastest of 171 timed works at the distance. “It was a nice, easy breeze,” Dutrow said. “It looked to me like he went in 50. When they told me the time I was okay with it, it didn’t bother me at all, because I saw how he went by me and it was as comfortable as you’d want to see a horse go by you. So, we’re just going to move forward with it.” Meanwhile, Dutrow is contemplating what might be next for Messier, who crossed the wire first but was disqualified to second in the Excelsior Stakes on March 30. Despite the frustration of being disqualified, Dutrow said he was pleased to see Messier run so well since he was not really pointing him to that race and it was his first start after a second throat surgery to aid with a breathing problem. “I was worried about two things: number one the throat operation, but that clearly worked, which made us ecstatic,” Dutrow said. “Number two, I thought I was forcing him into that spot, but it just didn’t look like a really tough spot and he’s run good going a mile and an eighth before.” Dutrow said since the Excelsior he has equipped Messier with glue-on shoes on his two front feet while also doing some work on his hind end. A start in the Grade 3 Westchester at Belmont at Aqueduct on May 3 or a third-level allowance could be Messier’s next race. “We gave him an oil change after he ran, which is good, even a Mercedes needs an oil change and he is a nice horse,” Dutrow said. :: Get the Inside Track with the FREE DRF Morning Line Email Newsletter. Subscribe now.  Dutrow said that Kinetic Sky, who won the Stymie on March 2 but was fifth in the Excelsior, has since undergone a throat operation. Dutrow said Petulante was scratched from Saturday’s Carter due “to some aches and pains” that have previously plagued him. “We’ll try to catch up with him and take good care of him,” Dutrow said. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.