Arrogate ran away from his Pegasus foes in a manner that suggests he could be one of the ones for all of history. The Bob Baffert student didn’t really have it his way early in the race but when he was asked the question, he had all the answers.
The $12 million 9-furlong Pegasus World Cup that was staged at Gulfstream Park Saturday delivered although the much-awaited sequel to the Breeders’ Cup Classic did not materialize. The die was cast for California Chrome at the draw of the race when he drew post 12 and Arrogate drew the rail.
The bettors made it a two-horse race as Arrogate ran away from his rivals as the 4-5 favorite and California Chrome was tab as the 6-5 second choice.
The Mark Casse trainee Noble Bird was keen to run early and he made the lead after a quarter mile in :23.46. He still was in front at half-mile pole in :46.14 but that is when he started to run out of gas. By the time they had run 6 furlongs, Arrogate angrily put his head in front and the rest was history.
Arrogate had a 4-length lead by the time they had went a mile in 1:33.90 and he got the 9 furlongs in 1:47.61. Arrogate ran away from his inside at the sound of the bell securing a solid stalking position. He was not asked for his best till the sixteenth pole but he had plenty of gas in the tank to get the job done. The son of Unbridled’s Song won the Pegasus World Cup geared down. The racing term geared down means he was coasting much like the way Usain Bolt has won so many Olympic races.
Although California Chrome was forced to go five wide early in the race, he really had no excuse. He didn’t lose a ton of ground and he had Arrogate right where he wanted him down the backstretch. The difference was that Arrogate ran away at will and California Chrome retreated. It was discovered after the race that California Chrome had fluid in his knee but that will not stop him from starting his breeding career in a few weeks.
Shaman Ghost settled early and rallied solidly to get second in the Pegasus World Cup and Neolithic used his tactical speed to get third. The Breeders’ Cup Classic third-finisher Keen Ice completed the superfecta.
Arrogate paid $3.80. The $1 trifecta paid $104 and the ten cents superfecta paid $46.39.
Jockey Mike Smith, after some anxious moments, rode Arrogate with confidence, Smith: “Once I got out going into the far turn, I knew we were going to be very tough to beat. He had a lot of run today and I was very happy. As far as winning the world’s richest race, I’m absolutely numb.”
Arrogate earned $7 million for his heroics. Shaman Ghost, owned Gulfstream Park owner Frank Stronach, banked $1.75 million. Show horse Neolithic earned a million-dollar payday. The rest of the runners got a quarter of a million each for showing up.
As far as the final time is concern, Arrogate did his part. The $400,000 Poseidon Handicap was run earlier in the day at the same 9 furlongs of the Pegasus World Cup. The winner of that race, Imperative, was timed in 1:48.97, over a full second slower than the Pegasus hero.
Arrogate earned a 116 Beyer Speed Figure Saturday and he has hit the triple-digit Beyer mark in 4 of his last 5 races.
Arrogate has now shown he doesn’t need a perfect trip to succeed. In the Breeders’ Cup Classic, California Chrome had his own way on the lead and Arrogate came and nailed him in facile fashion. On Saturday, Arrogate didn’t break super sharply and had to take dirt in his face early on. But once he was in the clear, the race was over in a heartbeat.
Hats have to go off to the Stronach Group for putting the Pegasus World Cup together. The $40.2 million handle for the day at Gulfstream was a record for the venue. The $15.68 million handled on the Pegasus World Cup was sensational considering the Donn Handicap last year handled $3.1 million. The Donn was scraped to make room for the Pegasus World Cup.
What’s next for Arrogate? The feeling is he will be rested for a while with the Santa Anita Handicap a valid option in March. He could stay on the West Coast and race in the Pacific Classic in the summer or could head to Saratoga for that special meeting. The ultimate goal for Arrogate will be the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Classic and the racing world awaits.
