Tuna’s Bavaro flounders

Legendary tight end Mark Bavaro always went the distance for Coach Parcells. His four-legged namesake, Bavaro, came up well short trying a route for the first time in Saturday’s $100,000 Gander stakes.

The Bill Parcellsowned 3-year-old had sprinted to victory in his opening pair, winning by open lengths and took up his customary spot alongside the speedy Haul Anchor. The pair traveled up the backstretch together and it appeared Tuna’s colt was well within himself. But Bavaro suddenly began to lose ground a half-mile from home and ran out of gas deep stretch, finishing last of four. Haul Anchor, Cornelio Velasquez aboard, held off Carradine late to win the feature, paying $9.90 to win. But it’s back to the drawing board for “89.”

In Hallandale Beach. Fla., Arrogate beat California Chrome again, winning the $12 million Pegasus World Cup in his rival’s last race before retirement.

Arrogate went to the front near the head of the stretch, and jockey Mike Smith delivered what became an easy win by 4 3/4 lengths over Shaman Ghost as California Chrome was eased.

Arrogate has won six straight races, the last three being the Travers, the Breeders’ Cup Classic and now the inaugural running of the world’s richest race. He edged California Chrome in the Breeders’ Cup last year, and the two were stride-forstride in much of the early going Saturday.

But then Arrogate took off, and finished 1 ¹/8 miles in 1:47.61.

“He had me right where he wanted me,” Smith said, talking about when Arrogate and California Chrome were jostling early in the race. “But Chrome just didn’t fire his race today at all. Believe me, that’s not the California Chrome I know. He would have been on top of me.”

Arrogate returned $3.80 for the win — adding $7 million to his career earnings in the process.

California Chrome finished a stunning ninth, and will begin a stud career in Kentucky in the coming days.