Arrogate Works Strong Mile, Confirmed for Dubai

Arrogate | Zoe Metz

Juddmonte Farms' Arrogate (Unbridled's Song), champion 3-year-old of 2016 and recent winner of the inaugural GI Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park Jan. 28, worked a mile in 1:38.40 at Santa Anita Monday morning, drawing praise from Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who later confirmed to the TDN via text that his stable star will make his next start in the G1 Dubai World Cup Mar. 25. Baffert said that the GI Breeders' Cup Classic-winning 'TDN Rising Star' will be joined by MGISW Hoppertunity (Any Given Saturday) for the trip to the United Arab Emirates.

“I love the way he went,” Baffert said of Arrogate's Monday work with Martin Garcia aboard. “I had him in 12.21, 24.30, 36.32, 48.29, 59.96, 1:12, 1:24.40 and 1:38 and two (fifths). He gets stronger the further he goes…So far, he's handled everything well.”

Arrogate burst on to the scene with a powerhouse wire-to-wire score in the GI Travers S. at Saratoga last August and added a win over 2016 Horse of the Year California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit) at the World Championships at Santa Anita Nov. 5 before vanquishing that rival again in the Pegasus recently. His Monday work also brought praise from Santa Anita's clockers.

“He's come back from Florida stronger,” said private clocker Andy Harrington. “His last two drills have been terrific, off the charts. It doesn't look like he's missed a beat. He's come out of the Florida race fantastic.”

While Arrogate was previously also under consideration for the Mar. 11 GI Santa Anita H., the gray's new focus on Dubai leaves Baffert with GII San Antonio S. runner-up Mor Spirit (Eskendereya) as a potential 'Big Cap' starter. Meanwhile, Hoppertunity–third in last year's Dubai World Cup–captured the Feb. 4 San Antonio and has worked twice since, recently drilling five furlongs in 1:01 flat in Arcadia Feb. 23.

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