Arrogate breezes half-mile in first work toward Pegasus

DEL MAR, Calif. – In his first work since winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic 28 days earlier, Arrogate went a half-mile in 49 seconds on Thursday at Santa Anita, his first drill toward what could be a start in the $12 million Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 28.

Santa Anita’s clockers designated the work “breezing,” the only work of 109 so denoted Thursday. Arrogate worked by himself with jockey Martin Garcia aboard.

“He just loped around there in first gear the whole way,” trainer Bob Baffert said. “I was going to work him three-eighths, but I could see he was going to be a little tough. He looked good, came back happy. Just starting back.”

Regarding the Pegasus, Baffert said, “He’ll start breezing every week, and we’ll play it by ear.”

Juddmonte Farms, the owner of Arrogate, does not have a berth in the Pegasus, but multiple offers would be expected for the colt from entities currently holding berths but without a runner.

Arrogate would train straight into the 1 1/8-mile Pegasus. He will not have a prep race.

Drefong, Mastery prep for stakes

Baffert’s barn is loaded right now, and two of his other stars – Drefong and Mastery – both worked on Wednesday at Santa Anita for upcoming stakes.

Drefong, the winner of the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, went five furlongs in 1:01 as he readies for the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes on Santa Anita’s opening day, Dec. 26.

Mastery, unbeaten in two starts, is heading toward the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity at Los Alamitos on Dec. 10. He worked six furlongs in 1:12.80 in preparation for his first start around two turns.