Arrogate looking good for whatever's next

While no next race has yet been picked out for Arrogate, it certainly is looking like he’ll be racing again within the next six weeks or so. There had been thought prior to the Pegasus World Cup that he might get a break after that race, but he ran so well that day and came out of it so well that he’s continued right along with his training.

The most obvious and richest option for Arrogate would be the $10 million Dubai World Cup on March 25, but trainer Bob Baffert said he’s “not in any hurry to make any call” regarding where Arrogate runs next.

But Baffert clearly is happy with how Arrogate has done since winning the $12 million Pegasus on Jan. 28 at Gulfstream Park. He had his first work since that race Tuesday, when he went a half-mile in 48.60 seconds at Santa Anita under his regular work rider, jockey Martin Garcia. Baffert had Arrogate galloping out five furlongs in 1:01.

Arrogate went by himself.

“He got lonely there in the stretch,” Baffert said. “He was just galloping along.”

Baffert said Arrogate has done “really well” since the Pegasus.

“He’s held his weight well, he’s happy,” Baffert said.

The Grade 1, $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap is on March 11, and unless Arrogate goes in that race, Midnight Storm looms as the likely favorite.

Midnight Storm, a former turf specialist, has won on dirt in his last two starts – including the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes on Jan. 1 – and he continued to train right along for the Big Cap with a sharp six-furlong drill earlier this week at Santa Anita in 1:12.20.

“His last breeze was sensational,” trainer Phil D’Amato said Wednesday.