Gun Runner stands in way as Arrogate aims for repeat
Defending Classic champion back in form, Baffert says.
DEL MAR, CALIF. — Arrogate and Gun Runner square off again today in the $6 million Classic, the marquee event of the Breeders’ Cup.
Arrogate, the defending champion, is winless since beating Gun Runner in the $10 million Dubai World Cup in March. He’ll need to be in peak form to handle Gun Runner, the 9-5 favorite entering the Classic.
Arrogate, the 2-1 second choice, is one of four Classic entries for trainer Bob Baffert, who has won the race the past three years, including with Bayern in 2014 and Triple Crown winner American Pharoah in 2015.
“Gun Runner is the horse to beat,” Baffert conceded.
The all-time richest horse with earnings of $17.3 million, Arrogate followed the Classic victory with triumphs in the $12 million Pegasus World Cup and in Dubai.
Then things went south. The 4-year-old gray was fourth as the 1-20 favorite in the San Diego Handicap, and placed second to stablemate Collected in the Pacific Classic in August over the same Del Mar track.
“I think a lot of it is the way I prepared him,” Baffert said. “I take the blame for him getting beat the first time. The second time, it looked like he wasn’t going to run and all of a sudden he started running at the end.
“I think he should run well.”
Arrogate beat Gun Runner by 2¼ lengths in Dubai. Since then Gun Runner has reeled off dominant wins in the Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs and in the Whitney and Woodward stakes at Saratoga.
“You look at what he’s done this year and it’s very impressive.” trainer Steve Asmussen said of the 4-yearold. “His inner fortitude, his strength and his confidence has allowed him to do it.”
Baffert also sends out Mubtaahij (12-1), West Coast (6-1) and Collected (6-1).
Friday’s races: Forever Unbridled ($9.40), with John Velazquez in the saddle, scored a half-length victory over Abel Tasman in the Distaff, running 1 ⅛ miles in 1:50.25. Elate, the 2-1 favorite, finished fourth. Stellar Wind, a six-time Grade 1 winner, finished last in her final race before retirement.
Mendelssohn ($11.60), with jockey Ryan Moore, beat U.S.-based Untamed Domain by a half-length in the Juvenile Turf, running a mile in 1:35.97. Mendelssohn, the only favorite to win Friday, had four previous starts in England and Ireland.
Battle of Midway ($30.40) won the Dirt Mile, and Rushing Fall ($8) claimed the Juvenile Fillies Turf.
Thursday’s Games Friday’s games
Devils at Oilers: Late Predators at Ducks: Late
NHL notes
Kings: Los Angeles has climbed atop the Western Conference standings by adeptly combining its established stars with hungry young talent. Tyler Toffoli and Michael Amadio showed off the strengths of both categories in another impressive win for the surging Kings. Toffoli scored twice, Amadio got his first NHL goal and host Los Angeles beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-3 late Thursday for its eighth victory in 10 games. Amadio, Michael Cammalleri and Trevor Lewis scored during a three-goal first period for the Kings, and the veteran Toffoli scored twice in the second. Jonathan Quick made 33 saves as the Kings improved to 10-2-1 and pulled even with St. Louis for first place in the conference.
Flames: Mike Smith made 43 saves, Mark Giordano scored 2:19 into overtime late Thursday and host Calgary beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 2-1. Giordano fired a perfect shot over Tristan Jarry’s glove off a pass by Matthew Tkachuk.