Arrogate works six furlongs in prep for San Diego 'Cap

ARCADIA, Calif. - Arrogate has been on a steady pattern of Sunday workouts at Santa Anita in recent weeks, a schedule unlikely to change in the buildup to his first start of the summer at Del Mar in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap on July 22.

Arrogate worked six furlongs in 1:12.60 on Sunday. Trainer Bob Baffert said after the work that Arrogate will have his final two workouts before the San Diego at Santa Anita before being shipped to Del Mar.

“It’s all systems go,” Baffert said.

Arrogate is the world’s top-rated racehorse, having won the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita last November, the $12 million Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park in January, and the $10 million Dubai World Cup in the United Arab Emirates on March 25 in his last three starts.

With seven wins in eight starts, Arrogate has earned $17,084,600, a record for a North American-based Thoroughbred.

Arrogate worked alone Sunday under jockey Martin Garcia, although a horse from another stable began in front of Arrogate.

“He would have liked to have taken him on,” Baffert said.

Baffert timed Arrogate working in 1:12.80. Garcia frequently works Baffert’s leading horses. Mike Smith has ridden Arrogate in his last four starts, a streak that began with a win in the Grade 1 Travers Stakes at Saratoga last August, his stakes debut.

Smith was in attendance for Sunday’s workout.

“He looked great,” Smith said. “He was just cruising. Bob won’t let me work him. I go too fast.”

Arrogate is owned by Juddmonte Farms.

The TVG San Diego Handicap is run at 1 1/16 miles, and is a prep for the $1 million Pacific Classic at 1 1/4 miles on Aug. 19. If Arrogate starts in the San Diego, the purse will be increased from $200,000 to $300,000.

Arrogate was one of two champions to work at Santa Anita on Sunday. Stellar Wind, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2015, worked six furlongs in 1:01.60 in preparation for the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles at Del Mar on July 30.

Trained by John Sadler for Pete and Kosta Hronis, Stellar Wind won the 2016 Clement Hirsch and will be favored this year. Stellar Wind beat the multiple stakes winner Vale Dori in the Grade 1 Beholder Mile on June 3; they are the leading contenders for the Clement Hirsch Stakes.

“She’s ahead of schedule,” Sadler said. “We were just cruising.”

In other works, Battle of Midway, third in the Kentucky Derby on May 6, worked a half-mile in 49.60 seconds. Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, Battle of Midway won the Grade 3 Affirmed Stakes on June 24 and is a candidate for the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on July 30.

Sircat Sally, Hollendorfer’s leading 3-year-old turf filly, worked five furlongs in 1:01. Unbeaten in seven starts, Sircat Sally is a candidate for the Grade 2 San Clemente Handicap at a mile on turf for 3-year-old fillies at Del Mar on July 23.

Roy H, the winner of the Grade 2 True North Stakes at Belmont Park on June 9, worked five furlongs in 1:01.80. Trainer Peter Miller said last week that Roy H may run in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at six furlongs on July 29, the leading sprint of the Del Mar summer meeting.

Smokey Image, the multiple stakes-winning California-bred, worked five furlongs in 1:00.40. Trainer Carla Gaines plans to start Smokey Image in the $100,000 Bertrando Stakes for Cal-breds at a mile on dirt at Los Alamitos on Saturday.

The Los Alamitos summer meeting begins on Thursday.