ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) California Chrome was cruising along on the lead, looking every inch the lauded veteran ready to polish his resume with another big victory. Trailing behind was Arrogate, the youngest horse in the field, brilliant but inexperienced.
In a thrilling finish to Breeders’ Cup weekend, racing’s newest star emerged.
Arrogate chased California Chrome through the stretch, leaving the rest of the field in the dust. The highly anticipated showdown was on.
With Mike Smith first whipping Arrogate left-handed and then right, the 3-year-old colt caught California Chrome in the final 100 yards to win the $6 million Classic by a half-length Saturday at Santa Anita.
“When I did that, he gave me another jump,” Smith said. “That is what got us on by.”
The victory elevated Arrogate to heir apparent to California Chrome, who at age 5 likely has one race left in his storybook career.
For Arrogate, the future is limitless. His potential is untapped, having not competed as a 2-year-old and making just his sixth start in North America’s richest race.
It was California Chrome’s first loss in seven starts this year; Arrogate won his fifth straight.
“I was surprised I beat him,” trainer Bob Baffert said. “I didn’t think I could beat him going in.”
Smith earned his third Cup victory of the weekend and leading 25th of his career. Baffert won his record third consecutive Classic in front of an announced crowd of 72,811, third-highest in the event’s 33-year history.
Owned by Juddmonte Farms, Arrogate ran 1 1/4 miles in 2:00.11 and paid $5.40, $2.80 and $2.60 as the 8-5 second choice.
California Chrome set an unchallenged pace, with Melatonin second and Arrogate loping along on the outside in third down the backside.
“I was cruising on the lead. He was doing it so easy, so comfortable,” Espinoza said. “Maybe I should have opened it up a little bit early.”
Around the final turn, Arrogate cut inside of Melatonin and shifted to the outside, taking dead aim on California Chrome, the 2014 Horse of the Year who won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness that year.
“Once I switched over and dropped into the far turn, he really picked it up at that point,” Smith said. “Then he was relentless, this horse. He never stops. He’s got some stamina.”
California Chrome still had an advantage in the upper stretch until Arrogate closed steadily to pull off the upset.
“You saw two champions run,” said Art Sherman, California Chrome’s 79-year-old trainer. “What can I say? We got outrun on the fair. No excuses. He ran his eyeballs out.”
California Chrome returned $2.60 and $2.40. Keen Ice was another 10 3/4 lengths back in third and paid $5.80 to show.
Late-developing Arrogate first gained notice in August at Saratoga, winning the Travers by 13 1/2 lengths with the fastest time in the track’s 147-year history.
Then he proved in the Classic he’s not a one-race wonder.
“This horse is just learning how to run. California Chrome is a champion,” Baffert said. “To run down California Chrome, that’s what the Breeders’ Cup is all about, watching races like that.”
Hoppertunity, also trained by Baffert, was fourth. Melatonin finished fifth, followed by Frosted, Effinex, War Story and Win the Space, who didn’t finish.
Shaman Ghost was scratched.
In other races:
– Classic Empire won the $2 million Juvenile by a neck, making him the winter favorite for next year’s Kentucky Derby.
Ridden by Julien Leparoux, Classic Empire ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.60 and paid $11 to win as the 9-2 second choice.
Trained by Kentucky-based Mark Casse, Classic Empire has won four of five career starts, losing only when he tossed his rider in the Hopeful at Saratoga in September.
Not This Time, the 5-2 favorite, was second and Practical Joke third. Lookin At Lee finished fourth in the 11-horse field.
– Baffert won his fifth career Sprint race with Drefong, who scored by 1 1/4 lengths.
– Smith scored an upset victory in the $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint with 8-1 shot Finest City.
– Highland Reel held off favored Flintshire by 1 3/4 lengths to win the $4 million Turf for Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien.
– Tourist held off a late charge from defending champion Tepin to win the $2 million Mile by a half-length.
– Obviously became the first favorite to win on the weekend, taking the lead shortly out of the starting gate and holding off Om by a nose in the $1 million Turf Sprint.
– Champagne Room got the day started with a 30-1 upset in the $2 million Juvenile Fillies.
– Queen’s Trust caught 8-5 favorite Lady Eli at the finish line to win the $2 million Filly & Mare Turf by a nose, the first victory for Europe on the weekend.
