Santa Anita Stable Notes: Classic Winner Arrogate Drills for 2017 Debut

Juddmonte Farm’s Arrogate, who upset fan favorite California Chrome in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 6, worked five furlongs Tuesday at The Great Race Place in a bullet 58.40, fastest of 77 drills at the distance, the average time of which was 1:01.39.

Trainer Bob Baffert told bloodhorse.com that Arrogate could make his 2017 debut in the Grade II, $200,000 San Pasqual Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on Jan. 1, which could lead to the $12 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational at GulfstreamPark on Jan. 28.

Martin Garcia was aboard for the drill.

“When he came back, he was just full of himself, it was like nothing for him,” Baffert said of Arrogate. “He’s so impressive. After retiring American Pharoah, I never dreamt I would be dealing with another horse of his caliber, but he’s just getting stronger and better every day.”

STORYBOOK HORSE LEAVES BIG VOID FOR SHERMAN

The penultimate chapter in California Chrome’s fairytale career is scheduled to unfold Saturday at Los Alamitos Race Course, as the soon to be 6-year-old California-bred son of Lucky Pulpit readies for a highly anticipated rematch with Arrogate in the inaugural $12 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Jan. 28 at Gulfstream Park–Chrome’s farewell race before being retired to stud at Taylor Made Farm in Nicholasville, Ky.

“He looks very good,” trainer Art Sherman said three days after Chrome had his final workout for the Los Alamitos Winter Challenge. “He’s been training forwardly and I look for him to run a decent race.”

If all goes well after Saturday, plans call for Chrome to leave for Florida on Jan. 6 “and train at Gulfstream prior to the race.”

California Chrome will leave a gaping chasm not only in racing but in America’s mainstream. Winner of the Kentucky Derby in 2014 when he was named Horse of the Year, California Chrome won the $10 million Dubai World Cup last March, was second by a half-length to champion-in-waiting Arrogate in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita Nov. 5 and is North America’s all-time leading money earner with $14,452,650, boasting a 15-4-1 record from 25 starts.

Chrome’s life as a stallion will require an adjustment for both horse and trainer.

“When I look at that stall and see he’s not in there, it will be a void for me,” Sherman said. “But he’s got some great mares lined up, so I’m hoping he’ll be a really decent stud.”

That, of course, remains to be seen. Meanwhile, Sherman can’t complain.

“It’s been one helluva ride for me,” said the Brooklyn native who turns 80 come Feb. 17. “He’s a once-in-a-lifetime horse. Every trainer hopes he can have a horse like him and I was lucky enough to have him. It’s been great for me, my family and friends.”

While the California Chrome story on the race track is due to end Jan. 28 at GulfstreamPark, his untarnished tale of the turf could live on in perpetuity.

Sherman said a book that would be authored by Daily Racing Form’s Eclipse Award-winning Executive Columnist Jay Hovdey has been discussed.

“There are a lot of memories,” Sherman said. “I can tell you that.”

FINISH LINES: As is its tradition, Santa Anita begins its Winter Meet at 12 noon the day after Christmas, Dec. 26, which falls on a Monday but is considered a holiday since Christmas is on a Sunday. Santa Anita will be dark for live racing Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 27 and 28, and resume live racing Thursday, Dec. 29, at 12:30 p.m.

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