Arrogate barely breaks sweat in drill

ARCADIA, Calif. – Arrogate, the world’s top-rated racehorse, was never urged through a six-furlong workout in 1:12.40 at Santa Anita on Sunday and still had the second-fastest of 22 recorded works at the distance that day.

The workout was the longest since Arrogate’s return to full training in late spring. Arrogate, 4, has not raced since winning the $10 million Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates on March 25.

Arrogate was ridden Sunday by jockey Martin Garcia, who frequently works horses for trainer Bob Baffert. Arrogate worked alone but started about five lengths behind two horses from other stables.

Baffert was in contact with Garcia via walkie-talkie, reminding the jockey not to urge his mount.

“That’s good, not too fast,” Baffert said to Garcia as Arrogate ran down the backstretch.

In the final furlong, Arrogate caught the two horses who began in front of him. The time could have been much quicker with any significant effort, Baffert said.

“He wants more,” Baffert said. “I didn’t want him to do anything fast. I wanted him to cruise around there, and he caught those horses. “He never gets tired.” Owned by Juddmonte Farms, Arrogate is expected to start in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at 1 1/16 miles at Del Mar on July 22, a prep for the Grade 1 Pacific Classic there on Aug. 19.

Mike Smith rides Arrogate, who has won 7 of 8 starts and $17,084,600. In his last four starts, Arrogate has won the Grade 1 Travers Stakes at Saratoga last August, the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita last November, the $12 million Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park in January, and the Dubai World Cup.

There were 235 recorded works at Santa Anita on Sunday, with several other notable horses preparing for major stakes. The fastest sixfurlong workout of the morning was recorded by the stakes winner Home Run Kitten, who was timed in 1:11.80.

Stellar Wind and Vale Dori, first and second in the Grade 1 Beholder Mile on June 3, worked in preparation for an expected rematch in the Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Del Mar on July 30. Stellar Wind went five furlongs in 1:01. Vale Dori worked a half-mile in 49.40 seconds.

Sircat Sally, unbeaten in seven starts, worked a halfmile in 49.60 seconds, her first major exercise since a win in the Grade 2 Honeymoon Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on turf June 17. Sircat Sally is expected to start in the Grade 2 San Clemente Handicap at a mile on turf July 23.

Denman’s Call, who won the Grade 1 Triple Bend Stakes at seven furlongs on March 11, worked a half-mile in 49.40, his first workout since a 10th-place finish in the Met Mile at Belmont Park on June 10. Denman’s Call is scheduled to start in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes on July 29.