Arrogate fires bullet half-mile for possible San Diego Handicap start

Arrogate, winner of the Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1), Pegasus World Cup (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) in his past three starts, clocked a bullet half-mile at Santa Anita Park on Father’s Day Sunday.

Jill Baffert, Bode Baffert and Brad Pegram, agent for regular rider Mike Smith, accompanied trainer Bob Baffert as he watched his star pupil blaze four furlongs in :46.80 over the fast dirt with jockey Martin Garcia aboard. It was the fastest of 105 moves at that distance on the day.

Arrogate worked around 6:45 a.m. (PT) in company with Faithfully, who covered four panels in :47.60.

“He went nice,” Baffert said of Arrogate, who is the North American record holder in purse earnings having banked more than $17 million. “I gave him a little target. He’s doing really well.”

When asked if Arrogate would return to competition in the $300,000 San Diego Handicap (G2) on July 22 at Del Mar, Baffert replied, “It depends. I think he needs it.”

Two races on the schedule for the Unbridled’s Song four-year-old will take place at Del Mar – the $1 million Pacific Classic (G1) on August 19 and $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) on November 4.

Three other notable workers also took to Santa Anita’s fast dirt on Father’s Day.

Cupid readied for the $750,000 Suburban Handicap (G2) at Belmont Park with a bullet five-furlong move in :59.20 under Bejarano. The Baffert-trained four-year-old returned from an eight-month vacation to take the Gold Cup at Santa Anita Stakes (G1) on May 27.

Champion Stellar Wind worked four furlongs in :48.40 for trainer John Sadler in her first move since taking the June 3 Beholder Mile (G1) at Santa Anita. The five-year-old daughter of Curlin is readying for a title defense run in the $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1) at Del Mar on July 30.

Paradise Woods, unraced since an 11th-place effort  in the May 5 Kentucky Oaks (G1), worked four furlongs in :48.20. The Richard Mandella-trained daughter of Union Rags romped by 11 3/4 lengths while making her stakes bow in the Santa Anita Oaks (G1) on April 8.