Arrogate romps in Pegasus World Cup

Hallandale Beach, FL

The world's richest race crowned its first champion Saturday afternoon. 

Arrogate, freshened from a star performance in the Breeders' Cup Classic in November, once again stole the show away from Horse of the Year California Chrome.

The three-year-old colt dominated the 12-horse field, opening up down the stretch, to take the $12 race by a geared down 4 3/4 lengths under jockey Mike Smith for trainer Bob Baffert.

Arrogate sat close to quick opening fractions of :23, :46 and 1:09 for the 1 1/8 mile distance and still had a lot left in reserve striking the front around the far turn to never look back.

"He's got some turn of foot; he's got some stride," Smith said.

Chrome weakened to ninth after being floated out wide, breaking from post 12, while getting injured in the race. 

Trainer Art Sherman said the chestnut may have developed a chip in his right knee as he felt some heat on the front leg after the race. Monday, Taylor Made Farm said they were able to work on it and return Chrome home without a significant injury after looking at an X=Ray. 

Shaman Ghost closed impressively to finish a clear second and Neolithic rounded out the Pegasus trifecta after also being part of the quick pace.

Arrogate is by far the next super horse for Baffert and returned $3.80 for the win, running the 1 1/8 in a solid time of 1:47.

California Chrome has officially retired as a two-time Horse of the Year and the highest earning thoroughbred in North America to Taylor Made Farm.

Trainer Bob Baffert said Arrogate will a get a break after another peak performance, but is no doubt the No. 1 horse in the world at the moment. 

California Chrome set for final race

Hallandale Beach, FL

The leading money winner in North American history arrived at Gulfstream Park on Sunday and is getting ready for the $12 Peagasus World Cup. 

California Chrome has jogged around Gulfstream's track in preparation for his final race of his stellar career slated for Jan. 28.

The champ has never raced in Florida, but has had daily early morning gallops leading up to star-studded race. 

Alan Sherman, son of Chrome's trainer Art Sherman, said the champion has "looked good" getting acclimated to the new surroundings.

The all-time money earner will face a tough field in the Peagasus World Cup, the richest race in the world, as the field is expected to have the likes of Arrogate and Keen Ice.

Arrogate, trained by Bob Baffert, is the up-and-coming star and defeated Chrome back in November in the Breeder's Cup Classic. While Keen Ice picks his spots and defeated 2015 Horse of the Year American Pharoah in the Travers Stakes.

If California Chrome does make his final race a winning one his career earnings could go over $20 million. 

Sherman said he isn't worried "as long as Chrome's happy he is happy."

Del Mar Meet Ends, Signals End Of Summer

Del Mar, CA

The 39-day summer meet at Del Mar officially came to an end on Labor Day.

The top day of the season was August 20 when California Chrome stole the show in the $1M Pacific Classic en route to be being the unanimous choice for horse of the meeting.

Handle numbers came back as the best day ever registered according to track officials, with over $25 million reported from all sources.

Total handle for the meet was more than $465 million with 524,439 in attendance.

Flavien Prat tied with Rafael Bejarano for the jockey championship, as both finished with 38 victories.

Trainer Phil D'Amato grabbed his first Del Mar training title with 23 wins. Peter Miller finished in second with 21 victories.

Unfortunately, 17 equine fatalities were reported during the meet. With illness, accident, and irreparable musculoskeletal damage cited as the causes in both racing and training. 

Racing officials have said they are looking into ways of preventing such incidents in the future as they look forward to Del Mar's fall meet set to begin November 11. 

Arrogate wins Travers in record fashion

Saratoga Springs, NY

Arrogate ran away from the Travers field and set a new record in the process for the 1 1/4 mile distance on Saturday.

Trained by Bob Baffert, the 3-year-old colt made his stakes debut a smashing one under jockey Mike Smith. 

Arrogate broke from post position one and set blazing fractions for the distance of :46, 1:10 and 1:35. He kicked clear to a 7 1/2 length margin down the stretch and took the Grade I event by a final count of 13 1/2 lengths.

Baffert lost this race last year with American Pharoah, but this year he not only got redemption, his colt broke a 37 year track record and set his own of 1:59.36 for the distance.

Arrogate was super impressive and left the 48,000 crowd buzzing after the victory. The star on this day returned $25.40 for the win.

American Freedom and Gun Runner rounded out a distant trifecta. While the favored Exaggerator didn't seem to be enjoy the footing and finished 11th.

This was Smith's third Travers Stakes victory and Baffert said Arrogate will be pointed towards the Breeder's Cup this coming November at Santa Anita.     

California Chrome unbelievable in Classic

Del Mar, CA

The biggest horse race of the Del Mar meet went to the best horse in the country.

California Chrome, the all-time leading money earner in North America, continued his legacy with a breathtaking performance in the $1 million Pacific Classic on Saturday.

The 2014 Horse of the Year was sent to the lead by jockey Victor Espinoza and never gave the field a thought of catching him, after cruising through uncontested pace fractions of :23 and :47.

California Chrome finished 5 lengths clear at the wire of Beholder and another 2 1/4 lengths ahead of Dortmund. Chrome returned $4.20 to win and ran the 1 1/4 mile race in a stellar 2:00. With the voice of Del Mar, Trevor Denman, calling the winning performance "unbelievable."

Champion mare Beholder finished a valiant second, but the betting favorite didn't gave any competitors a chance. 

California Chrome, trained by Art Sherman, recorded victory number 14 from 23 starts and pushed his bankroll to more than $13 million. 

Espinoza also cashed in his first Pacific Classic win, after going winless in 15 attempts, calling Chrome "the best horse" he has ever ridden after the triumph. 

The smashing victory gave California Chrome the automatic berth to compete in the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic set to run Nov. 5 at Santa Anita.