ARCADIA, Calif. – It’s on. The showdown between Gun Runner and Arrogate in the Breeders’ Cup Classic is shaping up as an epic battle based on the way both worked Monday at Santa Anita in their penultimate drills for the Nov. 4 race at Del Mar. They, along with the likes of Collected and West Coast, were among those pre-entered Monday for the Classic, which will determine Horse of the Year, but they are undoubtedly the top two betting choices in the race, and both appear to be heading into the race the right way. Gun Runner has had an excellent month of training here, and he continued that progression with a six-furlong work in 1:11.80 just as the sun was coming up on the eastern horizon after the first renovation break. With jockey Florent Geroux aboard, Gun Runner started about two lengths back of workmate Gettysburg, polished him off in the lane, was three to four lengths in front at the wire, then galloped out powerfully. His time was the best of 11 at the distance Monday. “Super,” trainer Steve Asmussen said of the work. “I’m glad we came out here. Everything’s gone according to plan. I feel good about what we have in him. I just appreciate who he is. “That’s Gun Runner indicating the readiness to us that he has this year. He was solid last year. This year’s he’s stepped up. He works like that, gallops out like that. He’s matured and can take more in his training.” Geroux called it a “typical Gun Runner work.” “We wanted a stronger work than last week, and he gave it to us,” Geroux said. “He went out well.” Baffert, who had just worked a handful of horses, paused to watch Gun Runner and was duly impressed. “I’m gonna scratch,” he cracked. “That horse has gotten stronger and stronger.” :: Breeders' Cup PP packages: Get PPs, betting strategies, DRF+ Pro access, and more  Gun Runner was scheduled to walk Tuesday, gallop here Wednesday and Thursday, then leave for Del Mar early Friday morning, Asmussen said. He will have an easy half-mile breeze at Del Mar next Monday, standard operating procedure for Asmussen the week of a race. This final work at Santa Anita was his last major drill. Arrogate had been touting himself in his gallops the past two mornings, and he showed he’s coming forward by polishing off seven furlongs in 1:25.40 under jockey Rafael Bejarano after the second renovation break, a little more than an hour after Gun Runner worked. Arrogate broke off at the six-furlong pole about six lengths behind his usual workmate, Uninvited, then reeled him in through the lane while reaching out with the long, loping strides that carried him to victory in last year’s Classic here. Baffert was on a radio with Bejarano and instructed him to have an extensive gallop-out. “He wanted to do it,” Baffert said of Arrogate. “I had Rafael pick it up at the eighth pole. I told him to let him gallop out strong.” After getting Arrogate pulled up, Bejarano radioed to Baffert, “Patron” – Spanish for “boss” – “really, really good.” Baffert said Arrogate is “going to have to bring his ‘A’ game.” “It’s a serious field,” Baffert said. “There’s no margin for error in this field.” Arrogate, like all of Baffert’s Breeders’ Cup horses, will have his final Breeders’ Cup work at Santa Anita before heading to Del Mar. Baffert was so giddy over Arrogate’s work that when male sprint champ Drefong broke off moments later for his workout, Baffert messed up timing the horse. “I got so excited I didn’t clear my watch,” he said. Drefong, with Martin Garcia up, worked a half-mile by himself in 46.80 seconds and did it effortlessly. His time was the best of 55 at the distance. He will defend his title in the Sprint on Nov. 4. “He’s doing really well,” Baffert said. Baffert worked a number of other Breeders’ Cup prospects. Cupid and Mubtaahij worked six furlongs in company. Cupid, with Bejarano, started about one length back, and the two were inseparable at the wire. Cupid was timed in 1:13, Mubtaahij – under Drayden Van Dyke – in 1:13.20. Both were pre-entered in the Classic, but Cupid was cross-entered in the Nov. 3 Dirt Mile. Mor Spirit, an oftentimes indifferent work horse, turned in one of his better drills by easily besting Cat Burglar in a six-furlong gate work. Mor Spirit was timed in 1:13 and will go in the Dirt Mile. Alluring Star (Juvenile Fillies) and Solomini (Juvenile) worked for their Nov. 4 races, with Solomini maintaining a two-length lead throughout the seven-furlong drill. Both were timed in 1:26.60. Also Monday, trainer George Papaprodromou sent Win the Space six furlongs in 1:13.80. Papaprodromou said that Win the Space was pre-entered in both the Classic and Dirt Mile, but the intention is to run in the Classic.