Arrogate bests California Chrome in Breeders' Cup Classic

Arrogate followed up his Travers upset with an upset of California Chrome in the $6 million Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park. After sitting off the pace set by this year's Dubai World Cup winner, Arrogate engaged his elder foe with a quarter mile left to run. Initially it looked as though California Chrome would repel his younger rival, but Arrogate relentlessly ran him down in the final strides to get the victory by 1/2-length.

Both California Chrome and Arrogate had good starts, but California Chrome utilized his post 4 position to go immediately to the lead. Arrogate, who typically likes to be the pacesetter, took back in third after allowing Melatonin to go up and sit just outside of California Chrome.

Frosted rode the rail in fourth with Effinex to his outside in fifth. Keen Ice came away running in sixth, Win the Space was seventh, Hoppertunity lingered in the back in eighth, and a very rank War Story was the early trailer.

Even though Melatonin was just off his flank, California Chrome, with usual pilot Victor Espinoza aboard, was able to set an easy pace. He put up the opening quarter in :23.28 and the first half in :47.15. He continued to cruise along easily through three-quarters in 1:10.96 and the mile in 1:35.72.

In the far turn, Arrogate and Mike Smith ducked down toward the rail to go inside of Melatonin before switching back to the outside to go after California Chrome at the top of the stretch. From there, the two horse race everyone had expected unfolded in dramatic fashion as California Chrome and Arrogate left the rest of the field in their wake. At first, California Chrome spurted away from Arrogate, but losing a little ground inside the final furlong did not deter the game colt.

With Smith using both a left and right-handed stick, Arrogate determinedly chipped away at California Chrome’s lead. Still it looked as though California Chrome would exit 2016 with a perfect season, but with the wire looming, Arrogate looked “Chrome” in the eye and went right on by. The winning time for the classic distance of 1 ¼-mile was a strong 2:00.11.

Keen Ice nabbed third at 33-1 odds, ten and three-quarter lengths behind runner-up California Chrome. Hoppertunity, lovingly referred to as a cash cow by fans, did what he does best, running solidly to close ground late and round out the superfecta.

Melatonin, Frosted, and Effinex finished fifth, sixth, and seventh after being close up early. War Story who broke in the air and was rank early improved one position to finish eighth, and Win the Space, who was eased, completed the order of finish.

Shaman Ghost was scratched this morning after spiking a fever yesterday.

Second choice Arrogate paid $5.40, $2.80, and $2.60. Odds on favorite California Chrome returned $2.60 and $2.40, and Keen Ice returned $5.80 for the show. The $1 exacta paid $5.00, the $0.50 trifecta returned $37.30, and the $1 superfecta was worth $296.30.

Winning jockey Smith had nothing but praise for Arrogate. “That was incredible," he bubbled. "I’m at a loss for words. He’s such a young horse. He’s so talented. He’s got amazing stamina. He doesn’t quit. He could have gone around again. He’s incredible.” 

Meanwhile Espinoza, aboard California Chrome, second guessed himself while still giving his mount his due accolades. “It was great. He’s an awesome horse," he stated. "I was all by myself in the front and thought I could save something for the very end. Thinking back, I should have just let him run early but he ran great.”

By Unbridled’s Song and out of the Distorted Humor mare Bubbler, lightly raced Arrogate was bred by Clearsky Farms. Juddmonte Farms picked up the colt out of the Keeneland 2014 September Yearling Sale for $560,000. He made his graded stakes debut a winning one with a record setting performance in the Travers in August before making it 2-for-2 in Grade 1 company today. He improved his mark to 6: 5-0-1 for total purse earnings of $4,384,600.

Winning trainer Bob Baffert initially did not think Arrogate was going to be able to catch California Chrome. “When Chrome was out there cruising, I thought no way he’s going to catch him, he’s going to run second, but at least he showed up," he said. "Then all of a sudden, Mike’s riding and he’s catching up little by little with that big stride kicking in. I felt like when Trevor (Denman) says ‘this is un-believe-able.’ I never thought he would be able to catch Chrome.”

Art Sherman, trainer of beaten favorite California Chrome, was as humble and gracious as ever in defeat. “He ran his race, but just got beat in those last couple of jumps. That winner (Arrogate) is the real McCoy. I knew he was the one we had to beat, but I didn’t know how good he was," he observed. "We had no excuses. He broke so darn good that I figured we’d be in front early. The fractions were fine. When we were in front turning for home, I thought he’d win, because he usually hangs on. He’s been so good all year long, but it just shows that you can’t win every race.”

Though it was not the story book ending to 2016 that “Chromies” and the 5-year old’s connections were hoping for, California Chrome will be back for at least one more race before he begins his next career as a stallion. The $12 million Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup on January 28, 2017 is on the radar for North America’s richest racehorse.