Arrogate, Midnight Storm may both run in Dubai World Cup

ARCADIA, Calif. – Arrogate worked like the superstar he has become on Monday at Santa Anita and will make his next start March 25 in the Grade 1, $10 million Dubai World Cup.

Midnight Storm also worked like a star Monday at Santa Anita. The presumptive favorite for the Grade 1, $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap on March 11, he may also run in Dubai, which would preclude a start in the Big Cap.

Arrogate worked a mile in 1:38.40, and though trainer Bob Baffert did not expect a decision from owner Prince Khalid bin Abdullah of Juddmonte Farms until later in the week, he received notice late in the morning to prepare for Dubai.

“I just got the word,” Baffert said after speaking with representatives of Juddmonte Farms. “As long as he keeps working well, he’s going.”

Arrogate worked well Monday morning at 9. Arrogate, under jockey Martin Garcia, broke off several lengths behind a workmate, inhaled his work rival in the lane, and was strong past the wire and through the clubhouse turn.

“He did it without having to really work at it. He’s just that way,” Baffert said. “I loved the way he went; Martin was happy with the way he went.”

Arrogate has won the Travers, Breeders’ Cup Classic, and Pegasus World Cup in his last three starts. He had also been under consideration for the Big Cap, a race Baffert has won five times. This year, he will not have a starter.

The Baffert-trained Hoppertunity already is ticketed to Dubai, while Mor Spirit, the runner-up in the Grade 2 San Antonio last out, will skip the Big Cap and run March 18 in the Essex Handicap at Oaklawn Park.

Midnight Storm worked Monday by himself under exercise rider Jose Dominguez. He was timed in 1:13.80 with a big gallop-out. Phil D’Amato trains Midnight Storm, the likely Big Cap favorite without Arrogate in the field.

However, D’Amato and majority owner Alex Venneri opened the possibility Monday of Midnight Storm skipping the Big Cap and running in Dubai.

“A week ago, I would have said the Big Cap for sure. Now, I would say it is 60-40 Big Cap-Dubai,” D’Amato said.

Venneri, who bred Midnight Storm and owns the 6-year-old with Little Red Feather Racing, said after Midnight Storm’s workout that Dubai was under strong consideration.

“I think Phil would rather keep him here and run in our own backyard, but the purse is so enticing over there,” Venneri said. “You run third [in Dubai], you get $1 million. You win [the Big Cap], you get $450,000.”

Midnight Storm has won six of his last seven starts, and though conventional thinking is to duck Arrogate, Venneri said, “We might chase him. There’s nothing wrong with running second to Arrogate. It’s better than to win the Santa Anita Handicap without him.”

– additional reporting by Jay Privman