Baffert relieved after Arrogate gets in pre-Pegasus workout

ARCADIA, Calif. - Arrogate worked six furlongs in 1:11.94 prior to the first race at Santa Anita on Sunday, an exercise that leaves the star 4-year-old colt on schedule for an expected start in the $12 million Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 28.

The workout was held before the first race because of wet conditions that limited morning training at Santa Anita on Sunday. Arrogate has not raced since winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic here Nov. 5. He was scratched from the $200,000 San Pasqual Stakes on Jan. 1 because of a wet surface. The track was rated good for Sunday’s workout.

Ridden by Martin Garcia, Arrogate worked in company with stablemate Uninvited. Arrogate began two lengths behind Uninvited and drew alongside his stablemate with no difficulty. Arrogate ran the opening quarter-mile in 24.51 seconds, and a half-mile in 47.96. Arrogate finished three lengths clear of Uninvited and galloped out seven furlongs in 1:24.56.

Trainer Bob Baffert timed Arrogate galloping out a mile in 1:37.

“I’ve got the work in,” Baffert said. “I was sweating bullets. You forget how good he is until you watch him work.”

Garcia said Arrogate traveled well during the workout.

“He made it look really good,” Garcia said. “I think he’s ready. This work will make him better.”

Garcia is the workout rider for Arrogate, but Mike Smith has ridden Arrogate in his last two starts – wins in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga in August and the BC Classic.

Sunday’s workout was the first for Arrogate since he ran six furlongs on Dec. 27. Arrogate and California Chrome, the runner-up in the BC Classic, are the leading contenders for the Pegasus World Cup. Owned by Juddmonte Farms, Arrogate has won 5 of 6 starts and has earned $4,084,600.

Baffert had expressed concern in recent days about Arrogate's lack of a workout because of wet conditions. He was visibly relieved after Arrogate returned to the stable following the workout.

“He likes the mud,” Baffert said to Garcia at the barn. “It worked out perfectly.

“That’s a big deal. You don’t know much I appreciate that.”

Champagne Room preps for Las Virgenes

Champagne Room, the winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies here in November, worked five furlongs in 59 seconds between races on Sunday.

Champagne Room worked alone.

Trained by Peter Eurton, Champagne Room is scheduled to make her 3-year-old debut in the $200,000 Las Virgenes Stakes for fillies at a mile on Feb. 5. Champagne Room is a finalist for the Eclipse Award as the outstanding 2-year-old filly of 2016.