Arrowthegreat sharp in comeback win

DEL MAR, Calif. – Last August, Arrowthegreat won his final start of the year in the Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs. On Sunday at Del Mar, Arrowthegreat won his first start of 2026 in an allowance race that had the depth of a stakes.

Ridden by Armando Ayuso, Arrowthegreat ($41.60) closed from fifth in a field of nine to finish a half-length in front of 6-5 favorite Privman, a 4-year-old who had not raced since a win in the Tokyo City Cup at Santa Anita last October. Arrowthegreat, 6, won for the fifth time in his 19-race career.

“It’s so cool to see the 6-year-old beat up on the young’uns,” trainer and co-owner Dan Blacker said in the winner’s circle. “It was a good field and to do it coming off the bench. I feel great. Armando rode him really well.”

Blacker has ambitious plans for Arrowthegreat, mentioning the Group 2 Godolphin Mile in Dubai next spring as a long-range goal.

“It’s a long way away,” he said.

On Sunday, Arrowthegreat ran a mile in 1:36.78 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 96. A gelding, Arrowthegreat races for a partnership that includes Blacker’s Radley Racing, Double L Racing, John Cavalli, Jim Crews, Rick Gold, and Al Lerch.

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