The Pegasus World Cup draw was completed Monday and there were some very unhappy campers in the room after the field was solidified. Ironically, the two morning line favorites could not be farther apart. California Chrome, tabbed at 6-5, drew the extreme outside 12 post. Arrogate, at 7-5, drew the rail.
The $12 million Pegasus World Cup draw was pretty much on the dull side after the 12 pills were drawn. The race goes Saturday January 28 at Gulfstream Park.
Prayer for Relief goes from post 2 and Neolithic is next door. Noble Bird will break from slot 4. The ‘War’ horses, Story and Envoy, are next door to each other at posts 5 and 6.
The house horse Shaman Ghost lands the lucky 7 slot and Semper Fortis is next door. Keen Ice, third to Arrogate and California Chrome in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, has a decent Pegasus World Cup draw in slot 9.
Breaking Lucky, Eragon and again, California Chrome will be the last to load into the gate.
There are 3 also eligible in case there is a mishap in the days leading to the race. They are Madefromlucky, Sea Raven and Stanford.
The worst loser of the Pegasus World Cup draw is California Chrome. A runner in the 11 or 12 post can be at an extremely disadvantage as they break right near the turn at this 9-furlong distance. It’s a very short run to the first turn and the rider of California Chrome, Victor Espinoza, will have to decide quickly to gun and vie for the lead or take back.
Arrogate is not the swiftest from the gate. Out of the blocks, he doesn’t fire away from there, so the number one post could force his hand a bit. The good news for his backers is that he will have Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith on his back.
At this point as the Pegasus World Cup draw is a done deal, strategy will be important moving forward.
Noble Bird, tabbed at 25-1 on the morning line, has speed and figures to be gunning from his post 4. Neolithic has only won twice, but he has :45 and change speed and figures to be put into the race early.
In the final tune-ups for the Pegasus World Cup, no horse worked better than Arrogate. Trained by Bob Baffert, who was worried about the last work because of the inclement California weather of late, was very happy with Arrogate’s last move.
Working in company, Arrogate gave his stablemate Uninvited about a 5-length head start in the 6-furlong work. The Breeders’ Cup Classic winner maintained a steady pace through the first half-mile and then was allowed to lengthen his stride. He caught his stablemate just before the wire. Fractions on Arrogate’s work were: 24.82, 48.87, 1:01.02, six furlongs in 1:12.13 and out a mile in 1:38.36.
Arrogate appears to be super fit and ready to rumble.
After the draw, California Chrome’s trainer Art Sherman was kind of philosophical about having to start from the outside. Speaking about his superstar, Sherman: “He has natural speed and should be in good position into the first turn. His best races were from off the pace the main factor is getting into that first turn without losing a lot of ground. You are going to see a fabulous horse ending his career at the peak of his conditioning and he’s training like a beast.”
If there is a silver lining to the 12 post for California Chrome, it’s the fact he will not be in the gate very long. At this early point, the feeling is that California Chrome will be sent hard. It’s his final race, there is no sense getting cute at this juncture. If he has to race wide, so be it. Great horses can overcome adversity and he may have to do just that if he wants to go out on top.
Sherman is not kidding about how California Chrome has been training. He has worked four times since his win on December 17. His final work on January 21 was his best as he was clocked in :58 4/5 for five furlongs, the second best work of the day.
This could be an epic confrontation. California Chrome was just awarded Horse of the Year honors and Arrogate earned the Eclipse Award as the top 3-year-old.
Gentlemen, start your engines.
