By Christie DeBernardis
Champion Arrogate (Unbridled's Song) looks to rebound off a lackluster fourth-place finish in the July 22 GII San Diego H. last time out in Saturday's GI TVG Pacific Classic, a “Win and You're In” event for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic, which will also be held at the seaside oval.
The “TDN Rising Star” has been seemingly unstoppable since breaking his maiden last June, reeling off seven straight wins, including a record-setting romp in the GI Travers S. and defeating two-time Horse of the Year California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit) in both the BC Classic and the inaugural $12-million GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. Jan. 28. Shocking the world when going from last to first in the G1 Dubai World Cup Mar. 25, Arrogate did not return with the same vigor, never lifting a hoof when fourth to Accelerate (Lookin at Lucky) in the San Diego. However, Baffert has been more than pleased with his works since and Baffert said he believes the gray is back to his old self.
“I thought he looked good,” agreed Smith, who watched Arrogate's four-furlong work Aug. 14 (a half-mile in :47:60) from the grandstand. “He looked happy to me.”
Baffert also saddles the horse who is probably the greatest threat to Arrogate in Collected (City Zip), a perfect three-for-three this term. Kicking off 2017 with a facile score in the Santana Mile, the chestnut scored a decisive victory in the nine-furlong GII Californian S. Apr. 22 and thrashed his rivals by 14 lengths last time in the GIII Precisionist S. June 24. While Arrogate boasts three impressive victories at 1 1/4 miles, Collected will be navigating the distance for the first time.
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