Arrogate, Gun Runner get serious in works

ARCADIA, Calif. – With the Breeders’ Cup Classic less than three weeks away, the intensity of workouts for Arrogate and Gun Runner was cranked up a notch Monday morning at Santa Anita, with both putting in demanding drills in company designed to have them at their best for a showdown for Horse of the Year on Nov. 4 at Del Mar.

Arrogate, who won last year’s Classic at Santa Anita, worked six furlongs in company in 1:13.20, then galloped out a full mile in 1:39.80, according to Santa Anita’s clockers. Rafael Bejarano, who has been on Arrogate in his recent drills, was aboard.

“Really good,” Bejarano called to trainer Bob Baffert as Arrogate jogged off the track with a pony after the drill. “He’s ready now.”

Baffert said the work went “perfect.”

“We let him do a little bit more today,” said Baffert, who brought Arrogate back on six days’ rest for this drill after going a week between moves earlier this month. “I like the way he’s coming into it. He looked pretty happy coming off the track.”

Gun Runner had his most serious drill since arriving here. After going solo in prior drills at Santa Anita, this time he went in company with stablemate Gettysburg, and his regular rider, Florent Geroux, was in town for the work. In addition to Gettysburg, a lesser horse from another barn jumped in to make it a threeway move, for a while. Gun Runner was timed in 1:00.40 for five furlongs and was caught going out six furlongs in 1:12.80.

“It’s time to pick it up,” said his trainer, Steve Asmussen, who was here along with co-owner Ron Winchell. “The work today put him in position to do what we want to do next week. He picked up the extra company, but he backed off nicely. It was a different work than just breaking off with the gallop boy from the pole, and he knows it. He’s right where I want him to be.

“He finished up good and he galloped out well. With Florent working him and the style of work, he’ll be dialed in. Gun Runner definitely knows our pattern.”

Geroux, who flew here from Kentucky late Sunday night, said Gun Runner “went very nicely.”

“He puts good effort into his works,” said Geroux, who will be back in town for Gun Runner’s work next week. “He went without any urging. I never moved a hand. He was nice and relaxed and finished his work strong.”

Both Arrogate and Gun Runner have two more works scheduled prior to the Classic. Both will work next week at Santa Anita. Gun Runner will have his final drill at Del Mar. Baffert has yet to decide if Arrogate will have his final work at Del Mar or at Santa Anita.

Drefong finishes fast in work

Drefong is the defending winner of the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, and judging by the way he worked Monday, he is going to be all set for a defense of his victory on Nov. 4 at Del Mar.

Working six furlongs from the gate in company with Met Mile winner Mor Spirit, Drefong was going easily under jockey Drayden Van Dyke before pulling away late. He was timed in 1:12.20, with Mor Spirit – who is a notoriously moderate work horse – finishing up in 1:12.80 in his prep for the BC Dirt Mile. Drefong’s time was the best of 12 at the distance Monday.

“He just took off,” Baffert said. “He looks so good.”

Also Monday, the unbeaten 2-year-old filly Moonshine Memories went an easy five furlongs in 1:02.40 for trainer Simon Callaghan as she readies for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies on Nov. 4 at Del Mar.

And, the popular veteran Hoppertunity neared a return to action with a six-furlong work in company in 1:13. Hoppertunity, idle since finishing sixth in the Dubai World Cup on March 25, is scheduled to make his comeback in the $70,000 Comma to the Top here Oct. 28 as a prep for a return to Churchill Downs next month for the Grade 1 Clark. That would mark the fourth straight year Hoppertunity has run in the Clark, which he won in 2014.

Bal a Bali rushing to make Mile

Bal a Bali, unraced since a sixth-place finish in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile on Aug. 20, is likely to start in the Breeders’ Cup Mile on Nov. 4 at Del Mar.

But trainer Richard Mandella said last weekend that Bal a Bali faces a tight schedule to be in peak form for the $2 million grass race. Gaining a spot in the field is not an issue. Bal a Bali earned a fees-paid berth with his win in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita in June.

Timing is another matter. Bal a Bali has had three workouts since returning to training last month, including six furlongs in 1:13.80 on Oct. 12 at Santa Anita. Mandella said Bal a Bali is likely to start, judging from his recent exercise.

“We’re still trying to make it if we can,” Mandella said.

Mandella put the chances of Bal a Bali starting at 75-25.

The 7-year-old Bal a Bali has won 2 of 4 starts this year, with both wins in Grade 1 races at Santa Anita – the Kilroe Mile in March and the Shoemaker Mile.