Five Questions Following Arrogate's Dominant Win in the Pegasus

January 29th, 2017 by Tom Pedulla

Jockey Mike Smith celebrates following Arrogate's 4 3/4-length romp in the inaugural Pegasus World Cup Invitational. (Susie Raisher/Coglianese Photos)

Tom Pedulla of America’s Best Racing asks, and answers, five major questions stemming from Arrogate’s authoritative victory in the $12 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational on Saturday.

Q: How good is Arrogate?

A: It would be wiser to measure the level of his greatness. He set a track record in a scorching Travers performance last August, trained up to the Breeders’ Cup Classic and ran down California Chrome there, and, with poor weather affecting his preparation and keeping him from a scheduled prep race, turned the Pegasus into a walk in Gulfstream Park. Jockey Mike Smith eased up on the accelerator in deep stretch. A frightening thought for Arrogate’s pursuers: He should only improve from here.

Q: Will Arrogate advance to the $10 million Dubai World Cup?

A: Garrett O’Rourke, U.S. racing manager for owner Juddmonte Farms, emphasized that the Pegasus was the primary early-season goal and that the connections will allow the dust to settle before reaching a decision. He made it clear that call will belong to trainer Bob Baffert. “We totally trust Bob and his judgment of the horse,” O’Rourke said. “We want, of course, the horse to have a championship season. So the end of the year is very important.”

Q: With the retirement of two-time Horse of the Year California Chrome, what does the future hold for Art Sherman, his 79-year-old trainer?

A: Chrome’s arrival was life-changing for Sherman, a former jockey who began his training career in 1980. He had never won a $1 million race until Chrome rocked and rolled in the Santa Anita Derby en route to Kentucky Derby and Preakness triumphs in 2014. His handiwork with Chrome has led to an association with Kaleem Shah, who brings the spending power Sherman lacked for so long. And Sherman speaks excitedly about eventually training some of Chrome’s babies.

Q: Did the Pegasus yield other significant on-track developments?

A: Neolithic’s third-place effort in only his sixth career start and his first Grade 1 test must be extremely encouraging to Starlight Racing and trainer Todd Pletcher. He was never asked during a nine-length laugher at Gulfstream Park in mid-December. The 4-year-old son of Harlan’s Holiday, a $460,000 purchase as a yearling at Keenland’s September sale, may be on the way to fulfilling his potential.

Q: What is the future of the Pegasus?

A: The Stronach Group benefits from a great spot on the calendar and reiterated its commitment to establishing the Pegasus as a marquee event. There have been rumblings that the 1 1/8-mile test will be moved to the West Coast to Santa Anita Park, another Stronach property, and increased in distance to a mile and a quarter. But Belinda Stronach, the daughter of Pegasus creator Frank Stronach, favors staying in South Florida. “It’s got a real Miami vibe to it,” she said. She made the comment before it was announced that Gulfstream smashed its record for total handle with a staggering $40.217 million wagered.