Arrogate Arrives at Gulfstream for $12 million Pegasus World Cup

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Juddmonte Farms’ Arrogate arrived at Gulfstream Park Tuesday afternoon and settled in for his rematch with Horse of the Year California Chrome in the $12 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Saturday.

Arrogate, accompanied by fellow Pegasus runners Semper Fortis and Way Envoy, was flown from California to Palm Beach International Airport. They completed their journey with van rides from the airport. The Eclipse Award-winning Arrogate stepped off a Brook Ledge van at approximately 5:20 p.m.

Jimmy Barnes, longtime assistant to Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, accompanied Arrogate from his home at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. He said the trip went smoothly.

“It was nice, a direct flight,” he said. “A four-hour flight.”

Arrogate checked out his new surroundings as he was being hand walked several times around the Barn 15 shedrow while the rest of his stable’s equipment was being unloaded. Barnes said the colt will gallop in the track at 9 a.m. Wednesday morning.

Baffert was in London this week for the ceremony in which Arrogate was honored Tuesday as Longines World Best Racehorse. He is scheduled to arrive in South Florida on Wednesday afternoon.

A fourth Pegasus runner, Stronach Racing’s Shaman Ghost, was shipped to the track earlier in the day from Palm Meadows. Gulfstream’s satellite training center in Palm Beach County. The final five members of the field of 12 that will compete in the world’s richest horse race are scheduled to be settled in at Gulfstream on Wednesday.

During the Eclipse Awards dinner at Gulfstream Park Saturday night, Arrogate was honored as the champion 3-year-old male of 2016. He earned that title with brilliant performances in his only two stakes appearances of the year, the Travers (G1) on Aug. 27 and the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) on Nov. 5.

In the historic Travers, Arrogate broke the 37-year-old Saratoga track record for 1 1/4 miles and won by 13 1/2 lengths. Baffert trained him up to the Classic and the son of Unbridled’s Song was able to run down California Chrome in the stretch to win by a half-length.

Arrogate was the runaway winner of the 3-year-old award, receiving 243 of the 248 votes cast, even though he did not compete in any of the Triple Crown races. California Chrome, winner of seven races in 2016 prior to the Classic, was the overwhelming choice in the Horse of the Year voting.

Reddam Racing’s Semper Fortis will be making his first start since finishing sixth in the Malibu Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park. He was purchased for $525,000 as a yearling and is a half-brother to Grade 1 race winners Carpe Diem and J.B.’s Thunder.

Ruis Racing’s War Envoy will be ridden in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational by Luis Saez, the leading rider at Gulfstream’s ongoing Championship Meet.

Source: Gulfstream Park