Arrogate shows closing punch in Breeders' Cup Classic work
ARCADIA, Calif. - Arrogate, preparing for the Breeders' Cup Classic, was one of several Breeders' Cup prospects who worked at Santa Anita on Tuesday, along with By the Moon and Gloryzapper, both of whom are preparing for the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, and Holy Lute, whose next stop is the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.
Arrogate worked in company with the comebacking Mor Spirit and received a final time of 1:24.40 from Santa Anita's clockers. As usual, Rafael Bejarano was aboard for the work - Mike Smith has the mount in the Breeders' Cup - and Arrogate had Mor Spirit as a target. They broke off together at about the 6 1/2-furlong pole, and Mor Spirit opened up a lead of about three lengths near the half-mile pole and close to five lengths at the top of the stretch, but then Arrogate closed with a rush to be even with Mor Spirit at the wire before galloping out one mile in 1:37.80.
Arrogate came all the way around before Bejarano finally turned him around at the eighth pole, where trainer Bob Baffert had gone to talk to Bejarano after watching the work from the stands.
"Muy bueno," Bejarano said to Baffert.
"He turned around with a bounce," Baffert said. "That's good."
Baffert said he has Arrogate go off at a steady pace initially in his works because, "I don't want him breaking off rank."
"I want him to get something strong out of it," Baffert said. "I work him in company because if he goes by himself he doesn't get enough out of it. He's a big, long-jumping thing, isn't he? He needs a full mile and a quarter."
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That, not coincidentally, is the distance over which Arrogate won the Travers, and over which he will compete in the Classic against the likes of California Chrome.
Mor Spirit, who has not raced since finishing 10th in the Kentucky Derby, was given a final time of 1:24.60. He was ridden by Martin Garcia.
Gloryzapper went a half-mile in 47.40 seconds for trainer Phil D'Amato, while By the Moon went five furlongs in 1:00.60 for trainer Michelle Nevin, who shipped the horse into trainer Ron Ellis's barn.
Holy Lute was timed in 1:00.80 for five furlongs for trainer Jim Cassidy.