Arrogate still pointing to Pacific Classic, has Woodward as backup

DEL MAR, Calif. – One week after Arrogate’s shockingly dull try in the San Diego Handicap, trainer Bob Baffert on Saturday at Del Mar said he still intended to make the Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic here on Aug. 19 with Arrogate, but he left open the possibility of heading to Saratoga for the Woodward Stakes on Sept. 2 if he deems Arrogate needs more time.

“As long as he works well, he’ll run here,” Baffert said. “If I feel he needs another week to get primed, it would be the Woodward. That’s the only difference. Right now, I want to run here. I’d rather run here than ship.”

Arrogate jogged on Saturday morning, one day after galloping. Baffert said he was alternating jog days with gallop days this weekend and intended to work Arrogate this Tuesday or Wednesday.

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One of the key allures of the Pacific Classic is that it mirrors this year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic, a 1 1/4-mile race at Del Mar, which hosts the Breeders’ Cup for the first time on Nov. 3-4. Arrogate last year won an allowance race at Del Mar, then shipped to Saratoga and set a track record in the Travers, which started a run of major stakes wins that included the Breeders’ Cup Classic, Pegasus World Cup, and Dubai World Cup.

Arrogate won last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita, and the Classic remains his main year-end goal. Baffert said that no matter whether Arrogate runs in the Pacific Classic or the Woodward, he would not have another race prior to the Classic. Last year, Baffert trained Arrogate straight into the Classic after his win in the Travers.

Arrogate had won seven straight races prior to the San Diego and had ascended to being ranked as the best horse in the world.

Baffert also said he was strongly considering Collected for the Pacific Classic. Collected worked six furlongs in 1:12.20 on Wednesday. Collected has won all three of his starts this year since returning from a layoff of more than 10 months.

“He worked really well. He likes this track,” Baffert said.