Arrogate works his way into Pacific Classic

DEL MAR, Calif. – Trainer Bob Baffert likens what happened to Arrogate in the San Diego Handicap to American Pharoah when he got beat in the Travers Stakes two years ago.

“We have to figure out what we did wrong and adjust,” Baffert said Tuesday. “It’s like being in the locker room at halftime and making adjustments.”

American Pharoah rebounded from his Travers defeat to romp in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Arrogate, who sleepwalked to a fourth-place finish in the San Diego at Del Mar on July 22, looked like his old self on Tuesday morning, when he worked a half-mile in 47.20 seconds, a move Baffert said put Arrogate on course for the Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic on Aug. 19.

“We’re running,” Baffert said. “He looked good today. He was floating over the track.

“He had to look like that. I can breathe easy.”

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Arrogate worked by himself under jockey Martin Garcia just after the second of three renovation breaks. He was going easily throughout and galloped out five furlongs on Baffert’s watch in 1:00.31. As Arrogate began to wind down from the work, Baffert “dabbed,” like Cam Newton after a touchdown.

“We’re right on schedule,” Baffert said. “Just had to hit the reset button.”

Baffert is second-guessing himself over running in the San Diego. “I should have just trained him to the Pacific Classic,” he said.

Baffert likely will have two horses in the Pacific Classic, as Collected has trained brilliantly since arriving here. He continued his strong pattern with a six-furlong drill in 1:11.40 earlier Tuesday morning.

“He loves this track,” Baffert said.

Both Arrogate and Collected recorded the fastest times of the morning at their respective workout distances.

Accelerate was the upset winner of the San Diego, and he had his first work since that victory on Tuesday, a half-mile in 48.60 seconds for trainer John Sadler. He, too, is intended for the Pacific Classic.