Arrogate's training hampered by wet weather

ARCADIA, Calif. – Arrogate, the winner of the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 5, is in need of a workout this weekend to stay on schedule for the $12 million Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 28.

“If I can squeeze a breeze on Saturday or Sunday, I’ll be fine,” trainer Bob Baffert said Friday.

Wet conditions in Southern California over the last week have disrupted plans for Arrogate, who was withdrawn from the $200,000 San Pasqual Stakes last Sunday because of a wet track. Arrogate has not had a recorded workout since he ran six furlongs in 1:12.20 at Santa Anita on Dec. 27, the last of five workouts for the colt in December.

Rain was expected in Southern California later in the day Saturday and again Sunday night into Monday. In recent days, Arrogate has jogged at Santa Anita. Baffert said time is of the essence to keep Arrogate on schedule.

“I wish the weather people would be wrong once,” Baffert said.

Owned by Juddmonte Farms, Arrogate has won 5 of 6 starts and has earned $4,084,600. After finishing third in a maiden race at Los Alamitos last April, Arrogate has won his last five starts, including the Travers Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 27 and the BC Classic. Arrogate has not raced since the BC Classic.

Arrogate is a leading contender for the Pegasus World Cup at 1 1/8 miles, along with California Chrome, who was second in the BC Classic, beaten a half-length. California Chrome won the $180,000 Los Alamitos Winter Challenge on Dec. 17 and has worked twice at Los Alamitos in recent weeks, including five furlongs Wednesday.

California Chrome was flown to Florida early Friday.

The field for the Pegasus World Cup has at least two other Southern California-based probables – the longshots Semper Fortis and War Envoy. Semper Fortis is owned by Paul and Zillah Reddam, who purchased a berth in the field when the race was introduced last spring.

Trained by Doug O’Neill, Semper Fortis was second in three stakes around two turns for 3-year-olds in 2016 and sixth in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes at seven furlongs Dec. 26.

War Envoy is owned by Mick Ruis, who also purchased a berth in the Pegasus World Cup last spring. Ruis said Friday that he had considered leasing a horse or negotiating a deal with other owners to form a partnership on a potential starter but is leaning toward going alone.

“I won’t spend money foolishly,” Ruis said. “It doesn’t make sense.

“I’ll probably run War Envoy if I can’t find another horse.”

War Envoy, 5, is winless in six starts in the United States since the autumn of 2015. War Envoy was acquired by Ruis last summer and has made three starts for his stable. He was sixth in an optional claimer at five furlongs on turf at Del Mar on Nov. 26 in his most recent start.

War Envoy won the $190,000 Britannia Handicap, a one-mile turf race against 27 rivals, at the 2015 Royal Ascot meeting in England.