Baffert declares Arrogate ready for Pacific Classic

DEL MAR, Calif. – All eyes were on Arrogate on Monday morning at Del Mar, as he completed his preparation for Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic with a half-mile work in 47.60 seconds.

“He’s fit,” said his trainer, Bob Baffert. “He’s ready. He cruised around there. We’re set.”

Martin Garcia was aboard Arrogate, who broke away from the pony just past the five-furlong pole and had a full head of steam by the half-mile pole. Del Mar’s clockers had him in fractions of 24.20 for the opening quarter, 35.20 for three furlongs, and had him galloping out five furlongs in 1:00 and six furlongs in 1:14. Arrogate worked by himself. “I didn’t want to work him in company,” Baffert said. “I didn’t want him to work too fast. He wanted to do a lot more today. I’m really happy with the way he was reaching out.”

Arrogate awkwardly changed leads in upper stretch, but Garcia reported to Baffert via radio after the work that Arrogate “wanted to take off” and Garcia was trying to guard against doing too much.

“He had a hard work last time,” said Baffert, who watched the work from the grandstand. “I wanted something lighter this time.”

Jimmy Barnes, Baffert’s assistant, reported via radio that Arrogate was “playin’ comin’ home.”

Arrogate is coming off the worst race of his career, a fourth-place finish in the San Diego Handicap here last month.

Baffert said he also would enter Collected in the Pacific Classic, and he was pondering entering Cupid, too, just as an insurance policy in case something unforeseen happened to his two intended runners between now and Saturday. As of now, Cupid is scheduled to make his next start Sept. 2 at Saratoga in the Woodward.

Entries for the Pacific Classic were due Tuesday morning, and posts were to be drawn Tuesday afternoon. Expected to enter were Accelerate, Arrogate, Collected, Curlin Road, and Donworth, with Cupid and Royal Albert Hall possibilities to enter.

On Sunday, Accelerate and Collected both turned in their final works in a style indicating their fondness for this track has not wavered.

Accelerate won the San Diego, the race in which Arrogate suffered his shocking defeat. He is unbeaten at Del Mar in three starts.

“He looks real good,” his trainer, John Sadler, said after Accelerate worked six furlongs in 1:12.40. “He seems to be where we want him to be.”

Sadler said he caught Accelerate going out seven furlongs in 1:25 and one mile in 1:40, all good times over a track that has played slow for much of the meet.

Collected was timed in 1:01 for his five-furlong drill under Garcia. Collected has never raced at Del Mar, but he has trained sensationally here for the past month.

“He’s done really well,” said Baffert, who said Garcia would have the mount in the Pacific Classic. Mike Smith rides Arrogate.

The two-time champion filly Songbird was nominated to the race but was officially taken out of consideration Sunday. She will go to Saratoga for the Personal Ensign on Aug. 26.