Arrogate Turns Pegasus World Cup Into One-Horse Show
- By Alicia Wincze Hughes. Jan 28, 2017
- By Alicia Wincze Hughes. Jan 28, 2017
Photo: Coglianese Photos/Kenny Martin
The thing with sequels is, they are often maligned for failing to live up to the original production. When the first staging of show delivers drama and apexes that surpass even the most optimistic expectations of the audience, it would stand to reason any subsequent revival would be up against an improbable bar to match.
Having previously knocked heads in what had been North America’s richest race last November, champions California Chrome and Arrogate were lured to see if they could recreate that magic again with the world’s biggest purse on the line Jan. 28.
One of them more than delivered on his part of the bargain.
The two-horse showdown that was supposed to be in the inaugural running of the $12 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) at Gulfstream Park turned into a torch-passing, one-star show. Doubling down on his stirring triumph over California Chrome in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) Nov. 5, Arrogate made a mockery of the showdown when he drew off handily under Hall of Famer Mike Smith to prevail by 4 3/4 lengths over Shaman Ghost. Watch Video
Meanwhile, the two-time Horse of the Year faded badly to finish ninth and was later diagnosed with fluid in his right knee.
Trainer Art Sherman said California Chrome’s ailment did not appear to be major, but added, if the issue persists, the 6-year-old chestnut would be examined by a veterinarian once he arrived in Kentucky Jan. 29. He said California Chrome could have a small bone chip.
“It looks like he scrambled away from there and couldn’t get his footing,” Sherman said. “It looked like he wasn’t getting a hold of the racetrack, like maybe his feet were getting out from under him. I don’t know why. He worked good over it.”
The image of the lanky steel-colored colt sauntering his way into the winner’s circle was by no means a stunner, for the story of Juddmonte Farms’ Arrogate is one of meteoric brilliance that has yet reach its deepest depths.
Unraced at 2, the 4-year-old son of Unbridled’s Song has become a world-beater in his seven starts, winning the Travers Stakes (G1) in record-setting fashion in his first graded stakes last August and running down California Chrome in the Breeders’ Cup to hand the son of Lucky Pulpit the lone defeat in a campaign that saw him crowned the 2016 Horse of the Year.
What few saw coming was the fact that Arrogate would be uncontested as he polished off his sixth victory, one that brings his earnings to $11,084,600. Though hung wide on the first turn after having to break from the outside post in the 12-horse field, California Chrome settled in fourth down the backstretch but had zero response when jockey Victor Espinoza began to nudge him for more.
“Chrome just didn’t fire his race today at all,” Smith said during NBC’s broadcast immediately after the race. “I was able to tip out and he was gone after that. Getting out was the anxious part. Once I was able to get him out and let him stretch his legs … if you can let him use it to his advantage, why not?”
Those big, gray strides of Arrogate’s have found no peers since he broke his maiden at Santa Anita Park June 5.
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert is notorious for not putting horses on a plane unless he feels they will represent him accordingly. So despite some chatter when Arrogate scratched out of the San Pasqual Stakes (G2) Jan. 1 and then had his workout schedule interrupted because of inclement weather in California, his mere presence at Gulfstream this week spoke volumes about his connections’ confidence.
“He just ran his race,” Baffert said. “I kept waiting for the matchup with Chrome, but he just didn’t bring his race today. It’s too bad. We expected to win, but he got a little tired at the end. He probably needed it badly.”
California Chrome, meanwhile, shipped to Florida earlier in the month and was training like a horse ready to deliver a walk-off performance in his final start before he retired to stud at Taylor Made Farm.
With Arrogate breaking from the rail and his elder rival serving as the bookend in the gate, the early stages set up close to what was suggested on paper. Grade 1 winner Noble Bird took his expected position as the pacesetter through fractions of :23.46 and :46.14, with Arrogate tracking third along the rail and California Chrome to his outside off his hip.
When Smith tipped Arrogate out and asked him to roll past Neolithic and a fading Noble Bird approaching the final turn, he proved he was more than worthy of his recent designation as the Longines World’s Best Racehorse. As California Chrome uncharacteristically began backing up, Arrogate opened up as he pleased in the lane. Smith said he geared him down in the final 100 yards as they hit wire in 1:47.61 for the 1 1/8 miles over a fast track.
“Once I got out going into the far turn, I knew we were going to be very tough to beat,” Smith said. “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.”
Added Espinoza on California Chrome, “He was just empty today. At the first turn I thought I was good, but when we hit the five-eighths, he just completely shut down. I just couldn’t keep up with the ones in front of me. He just started backing up and just wasn’t the same. He’s done a lot. Sometimes he’s going to throw in one of those bad races and one of those bad times was today.”
Arrogate paid $3.80, $2.80, and $2.20 across the board on a 12-race day when Gulfstream Park set an all-time handle record ($40.217 million). That number topped the previous mark of $32.082 million set last year on the 14-race Florida Derby (G1) card.
Behind Arrogate and Shaman Ghost came Neolithic, with Keen Ice, War Story, Noble Bird, Semper Fortis, Breaking Lucky, California Chrome, Prayer for Relief, and War Envoy. Eragon trailed from the start, was eased in the stretch, and walked off after finishing last.
As much as California Chrome’s team and fans wanted the storybook finish for North America’s all-time leading money earner, his final moment in no way takes away from a career that has yielded 16 wins from 27 starts and four Eclipse Awards.
“It’s been an unbelievable journey with him, even in defeat,” Sherman said. “You have such a good run. Not every horse can keep the record up like he has.”
There is a new reality in racing, however. Because as jaw-dropping as Arrogate has been in his burgeoning career, the Clearsky Farms-bred colt seems to have only scratched the surface of what he is capable of.
Frank Angst contributed to this report.
fonte : Bloodhorse.com
Arrogate Asserts Himself in Saturday’s $12 Million Pegasus World Cup; Bob Baffert Trainee Wins World’s Richest Race by 4 ¾ Lengths; California Chrome Disappoints with Ninth-Place Finish
Bob Baffert Trainee Wins World’s Richest Race by 4 3/4 Lengths
California Chrome Disappoints with Ninth-Place Finish
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Juddmonte Farm’s Arrogate left little doubt about his status as the world’s No. 1 racehorse Saturday at Gulfstream Park, overpowering his 11 rivals, including two-time Horse of the Year California Chrome, while capturing the $12 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) by 4 3/4 lengths.
Favored at 4-5, Arrogate registered his second straight decision over California Chrome, the 6-5 second choice whom he had defeated by a half-length in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Santa Anita Nov. 5.
”You know, what? He’s a superior horse. He’s just a great horse,” exclaimed Arrogate’s trainer Bob Baffert, who watched the inaugural running of the world’s richest race on the large screens in Gulfstream’s walking ring with his wife, Jill, and their son, Bode.
California Chrome, who was honored as the 2016 Horse of the Year a week earlier during the Eclipse Awards Dinner at Gulfstream, was unable to offer a serious challenge, fading to ninth after stalking the early pace in his last race before entering stud duty at Taylor Made Farm in Nicholasville, KY. The 7-year-old star, who received boisterous cheers from the Gulfstream crowd while being led to the saddling area and during the post parade, was beaten 29 1/2 lengths by 4-year-old Arrogate.
“It looks like he was scrambling and couldn’t get his footing,” said California Chrome’s trainer Art Sherman, whose 2014 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner broke from the far-outside No. 12 post position.
Breaking from the rail, Arrogate was able to save ground and closely track pacesetter Noble Bird on the first turn and along the backstretch while rating kindly for jockey Mike Smith. California Chrome, who was asked for speed by Victor Espinoza and raced four and five wide around the first turn, attained a stalking position outside Arrogate and Neolithic on the backstretch. Just when the rematch between the two stars was expected to develop, California Chrome failed to respond to Espinoza’s urging and began losing ground as Arrogate began to advance on a tiring Noble Bird and Neolithic on the turn leaving the backstretch.
As California Chrome continued to drop back, Arrogate coasted to the lead leaving the turn into the homestretch and drew away to a commanding victory. Stronach Stables’ Shaman Ghost made a strong run through the stretch to finish second under Jose Ortiz, 3 1/2 lengths ahead of Neolithic and jockey John Velazquez. The Todd Pletcher-trained Neolithic finished 2 3/4- lengths ahead of stablemate Keen Ice.
Arrogate ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.61.
“Once I got out going into the far turn, I knew we were going to be tough to beat. He had a lot of run today, and I was very happy,” Smith said. “As far as winning the world’s richest race, I’m absolutely numb.”
Arrogate earned a $7 million payday while winning the innovative event, for which 12 stakeholders each put up $1 million to participate.
The Pegasus World Cup was Arrogate’s first start since winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic, while California Chrome had tuned up with a 12-length victory in an ungraded race at Los Alamitos Dec. 17. Baffert went into Saturday’s race with a lot of confidence but did expect a stronger challenge from California Chrome.
“I kept waiting for the matchup with Chrome, but he just didn’t bring his race today. It’s too bad,” Baffert said. “We expected to win, but he got a little tired at the end. He probably needed it badly.”
Espinoza said California Chrome was “empty” when he called on him on the backstretch.
“He faded by the half-mile pole. I was pretty much done by that point, but the whole race, he never really got into the race,” Espinoza said. “…I hope he’s OK. It looks like he’s OK. He might have bled or something. Who knows what happened? The main thing is he came out of the race good and sound.”
Big Brown is the only horse to win from the No. 12 post position in a two-turn race since the Gulfstream track was reconfigured to span 1 1/8 miles in 2006, capturing the 2008 Florida Derby (G1) by five lengths in front-running fashion.
When California Chrome began to falter in the stretch, it gave Ortiz a boost of confidence aboard Shaman Ghost.
“I knew I had a good chance to run second or maybe win, but Arrogate drew off, so I knew I got second,” Ortiz said. “My horse was running really, really hard underneath me and I couldn’t even get close (to Arrogate).”
Velazquez was pleased with the performance of late-developing Neolithic, who was stepping into Grade 1 company after winning an allowance race at Gulfstream Dec. 14.
“He was pretty good on the first turn and once we got to the backstretch he got into the bridle and that was it. He ran as good as he could today,” Velazquez said.
Arrogate’s victory came at the venue where his trainer notched his first major Thoroughbred stakes win after switching from training Quarter Horses in the early 1990s. Baffert saddled Thirty Slews for a triumph in the 1992 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1).
While California Chrome will be heading to Kentucky to begin his career as a stallion, Arrogate will remain in training for a highly anticipated 2017 racing season.
fonte : http://www.gulfstreampark.com
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fonte : SAH Racing
Grazie California Chrome! Tributo ad un campione sbocciato dal nulla e capace di far sognare e vibrare milioni di persone
Il cuore, prima di tutto. Ed il mestiere di fregare il destino, oltre a quello di cavallo da corsa. Quello California Chrome ce l’ha messo sempre, senza mai risparmiarsi. L’epilogo non è stato come ci si aspettava, ma le motivazioni di una sconfitta risiedono in un piccolo infortunio manifestatosi poco dopo la corsa, dopo analisi che saranno ancora più approfondite a breve ma che hanno già rivelato delle anomalie ad un ginocchio, con eccesso di liquido che fa presupporre la presenza di un chip osseo già diagnosticato. Infatti, era troppo chiara la resa per esser vera. Ma lui non ha mollato un centimetro, lo stesso. Solo alla fine, grazie anche all’attenzione rispettosa di Victor Espinoza. Per lui finisce la carriera in pista, ma di lui avremo testimonianza diretta dagli eredi, a breve.
Oggi lascia il palcoscenico un cavallo che rappresenta nell’immaginario il vero “sogno” di chiunque abbia messo i piedi in questo mondo. Un cavallo nato dal nulla, ma divenuto atleta incredibile. Un soggetto da film. Non ha vinto Breeders, non ha mai battuto fenomeni. Ma non è questo il punto. California Chrome è l’anima che si espande e che non ha bisogno di altro, non tollera mercificazioni. Prodotto di un pedigree assolutamente ordinario, diventato il cavallo più forte del Nord America. Il papà, Lucky Pulpit, funzionava per $2,500 mentre la mamma Love The Chase (Not For Love), semplicemente una vincitrice di reclamare. Due contadini, in pratica. E poi lui: Il fiore che sboccia, il campione che non ti aspetti. L’atleta totale. Nato nella piccola Harris Farms in California’s Central Valley. Una storia come tante. Inizialmente di proprietà di una scuderia che si chiamava “dumbass” “i 2 scemi” o una cosa del genere, che si allenava nel circuito di Los Alamitos, la classica piccola città di periferia dove si allenavano i quarter horse, diventato famosa poi per un cavallo. Lui, California. Poi il gioco si è fatto serio quando California ha cominciato a lavorare e dimostrare di che pasta era fatto nonostante un discutibile paraocchi viola con un asino disegnato sopra, le vittorie corsa dopo corsa, la crescita esponenziale di un cavallo diventato simbolo di un popolo che crede nella perseveranza. Poi il Santa Anita Derby ed il sogno triplice corona da coltivare…
Il primo successo della Pegasus World Cup G1 è stato quello di rendere possibile un qualcosa che sembrava di difficile realizzazione. Il secondo successo è stato che la Pegasus World Cup è stato un successone. L’ippodromo di Gulfstream Park, assiepato da una folla di 16,653 persone (in linea con l’ospitalità dell’ippodromo) ha fatto registrare il movimento record della giornata con $40,217 milioni scommessi sulle 12 corse della giornata, di cui $11,114,341 solo sulla dodicesima corsa, la Pegasus appunto. Il precedente record era di $32.082 milioni in occasione del Florida Derby day, e con 14 corse in programma. A parlare è stato P. J. Campo, Vice Presidente del reparto corse di Frank Stronach e General Manager di Gulfstream Park: “Siamo estremamente soddisfatti di come sia andata. Dalla mattina fino al tardo pomeriggio l’atmosfera in ippodromo è stata elettrica, ma non solo. Tutta Miami era in fermento Ho visto felicità e tanta soddisfazione, credo sia stato fatto un grande lavoro anche nell’accogliere nuovi appassionati ippici. Ringrazio tutti coloro i quali sono venuti, gli ospiti e faccio i complimenti ai vincitori, agli atleti, ai cavalli per una edizione che è stata memorabile”. Intanto si tira una riga su quella che è stata la edizione 2017, già si pensa ad ampliare gli orizzonti nella versione 2018. Possibile si svolga a Santa Anita, possibile se ne crei una in erba di Pegasus. Ne sapremo di più a breve, intanto metabolizziamo i dati della prima edizione.
Gulfstream Park: #Arrogate si conferma campione assoluto, sua la Pegasus World Cup! California nono ed infortunato
Troppo più forte. Il giovane Arrogate (Unbridled’s Song) ha confermato lo spessore del cavallo più forte del 2016 secondo i ratings internazionali, cementando il suo status ed amplificando ancora di più il divario della Breeders’ Cup vincendo da lontano la prima edizione della Pegasus World Cup G1 da $12 milioni. Il grigio di Juddmonte, progressione che spacca, ha assolto il compito nel migliore dei modi dimostrandosi in questo momento davvero troppo forte per chiunque, anche per uno come California Chrome, al passo d’addio alle corse, che invece è arrivato desolatamente nono dopo una corsa nella quale non è mai stato il vero Chrome. Forse un pò passato di condizione, forse veramente al limite di una carriera comunque dispendiosa ma fruttuosa che ne ha saputo mostrare i lati umani e deboli, di una forza della natura. Non la freschezza, in questo momento e soprattutto un leggero infortunio manifestatosi dopo la corsa, con del liquido nel ginocchio e relativo “chip bone” diagnosticato. Infatti, troppo brutta e troppo precoce la resa di un cavallo che non ha mai mollato un centimetro.. Al contrario, Arrogate, è il ritratto della salute, in un ideale passaggio di consegne che vedrà il 4 anni di Bob Baffert protagonista della stagione che verrà: Tirato a puntino, allenato alla perfezione grazie ad una integrità fisica e mentale assolutamente superiori a conferma di un vecchio adagio che nelle corse vale sempre: A questi livelli, il giovane batte sempre il vecchio. Ed è accaduto per la seconda volta consecutiva.. La corsa si è sviluppata come ci si poteva aspettare, con una partenza veloce da parte di tutti i concorrenti che hanno cercato una posizione buona da cui fornire lo spunto: Dall’interno Arrogate ha speso per rimanere tra i primi, ma neanche troppo. Dall’esterno Chrome ci ha provato a risalire ma la sua partenza, comunque non troppo veloce, ha prodotto come risultato il dover rimanere a mezza botta al di fuori, in quarta ruota.
