Arrogate Returns to Work Tab

Juddmonte Farms' Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) winner Arrogate got back to business Dec. 1 at Santa Anita Park, turning in his first work since his Nov. 5 victory over California Chrome   and setting up a pattern for a potential rematch with that rival in the Jan. 28 Pegasus World Cup (gr. I).

NOVAK: Arrogate Upsets 'Chrome' in BC Classic



The 3-year-old son of Unbridled's Song is "quietly pointing" for the inaugural edition of the race at Gulfstream Park, although Juddmonte must obtain a spot in the starting gate due to the unique buy-in method by which the $12 million purse is amassed.

Thursday morning, Arrogate earned the rare Southern California "breezing" label for his four-furlong solo move in :49 flat under jockey Martin Garcia, and Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said the drill didn't take much out of the colt.

"I was going to go three-eighths with him, but he was pulling around there," Baffert said. "He did it pretty easy. He looks great. He can get a little bored out there. Going back to the barn he was playing around a lot."

Arrogate returned to the worktab just 28 days after handing 5-year-old California Chrome his first defeat of 2016 with a half-length score, which was on the heels of a record-setting romp in the Travers Stakes (gr. I). The gray colt had 10 weeks between races, and would have 12 weeks between the Breeders' Cup Classic and the Pegasus, with no prep race for the 1 1/8-mile Gulfstream event. 

NOVAK: Arrogate Blazes to Travers Record

California Chrome turned in his first work back Nov. 19 at Los Alamitos Race Course, where his connections hope to run him in an overnight stakes race to tighten the screws for his Pegasus World Cup bid.

BALAN: California Chrome Logs First Post-BC Work

"If we go to the Pegasus, I really wouldn't know until like Jan. 1," Baffert said. "I could get him ready in three weeks. It's not a big deal. We'd like to be there, (but) it's just too far off right now. I don't see anything that would say I wouldn't go to it. As of today, we're quietly pointing for it, as long as he's doing great. 

"Right now I don't see any reason not to go. I can tell he's starting to look stronger. His frame is filling out a little bit. I could get him ready really quick. With the great ones, you can get away with that."

One day prior to Arrogate's return, Baffert worked TwinSpires Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) winner Drefong (five furlongs in 1:01), pointing for the Dec. 26 Malibu Stakes (gr. I), and undefeated Bob Hope Stakes (gr. III) winner Mastery (six furlongs in 1:12 4/5), prepping for the Dec. 10 CashCall Futurity (gr. I) at Los Alamitos.  

Baffert added multiple grade I winner Hoppertunity, who ran back-to-back fourths in the Classic and Nov. 25 Clark Handicap (gr. I), will be given a brief freshening before gearing back up for a March 25 Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) return. He finished third in that race this year behind California Chrome and Mubtaahij.