Strong work by Arrogate puts him in Pacific Classic

DEL MAR, Calif. – Arrogate - the Arrogate who was ranked as the best horse in the world, not the Arrogate who sleepwalked through the San Diego Handicap on July 22 - was back on the track on Tuesday at Del Mar with a sharp half-mile workout that left his trainer, Bob Baffert, both smiling broadly and breathing a sigh of relief.

“He looked good today," Baffert said after Arrogate worked a half-mile in 47.20 seconds under jockey Martin Garcia. "He was floating over the track."

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“We’re running,” Baffert said with emphasis when asked about the Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic here on Aug. 19.

“He had to look like that,” Baffert said. “I can breathe easy.”

Arrogate worked by himself just after the second of three renovation breaks. He was going easily throughout and galloped out five furlongs on Baffert’s watch in 1:00.31. As Arrogate began to wind down from the work, Baffert dabbed, like Cam Newton after a touchdown.

“We’re right on schedule,” Baffert said. “Just had to hit the reset button.”

Baffert likely will have two horses in the Pacific Classic, including Collected, who has trained like a monster here in recent weeks. He continued his strong pattern with a six-furlong drill in 1:11.40 earlier Tuesday morning.