ARCADIA, Calif. -- California Chrome was cruising along on the lead, looking every inch the lauded veteran ready to polish his resume with another big victory. Trailing behind was Arrogate, the youngest horse in the field, brilliant but inexperienced.
Oaklawn connections
• Eight Oaklawn-raced horses raced in today's Breeders' Cup races after three participated Friday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif.
SATURDAY'S RESULTS
EFFINEX, 1st in 2016 Oaklawn Handicap, 7th in Classic
MELATONIN, 2nd in 2016 Oaklawn Handicap, 5th in Classic
HOPPERTUNITY, 1st in 2014 Rebel, 4th in Classic
WIN THE SPACE, 2015 Arkansas Derby, 9th in Classic
HAVEYOUGONEAWAY, 2016 Oaklawn stakes winner, 7th in Filly and Mare Sprint
TARA'S TANGO, 3rd in 2016 Apple Blossom, 4th in Filly and Mare Sprint
A.P. INDIAN, 2nd in 2014 Oaklawn allowance, 4th in $1.5 million Sprint
RALIS, 10th in 2016 Rebel Stakes, 9th in $4 million Turf
FRIDAY'S RESULTS
FOREVER UNBRIDLED, 1st in Apple Blossom, third in Distaff
POINT PIPER, 3rd in Oaklawn Handicap, 6th in Dirt Mile
TEXAS CHROME, third in Bachelor Stakes, 9th in Dirt Mile
In a thrilling finish to Breeders' Cup weekend, racing's newest star emerged.
Arrogate chased California Chrome through the stretch, and they left the rest of the field in the dust. The highly anticipated showdown was on.
Jockey Mike Smith whipped Arrogate left-handed and then right, and the 3-year-old colt caught California Chrome in the final 100 yards to win the $6 million Classic by a half-length Saturday at Santa Anita.
"When I did that, he gave me another jump," Smith said. "That is what got us on by."
The victory elevated Arrogate to heir apparent to California Chrome, who at age 5 likely has one race left in his storybook career.
Arrogate's potential is untapped, having not competed as a 2-year-old and making his sixth start in North America's richest race.
It was California Chrome's first loss in seven starts this year; Arrogate won his fifth in a row.
"I was surprised I beat him," trainer Bob Baffert said. "I didn't think I could beat him going in."
Smith earned his third Cup victory of the weekend and leading 25th of his career. Baffert won his record third consecutive Classic in front of an announced crowd of 72,811, third-highest in the event's 33-year history.
Owned by Juddmonte Farms, Arrogate ran 1 1/4 miles in 2:00.11 and paid $5.40, $2.80 and $2.60 as the 8-5 second choice.
California Chrome set an unchallenged pace, with Melatonin second and Arrogate loping along on the outside in third down the backside.
"I was cruising on the lead. He was doing it so easy, so comfortable," Espinoza said. "Maybe I should have opened it up a little bit early."
Around the final turn, Arrogate cut inside of Melatonin and shifted to the outside, taking dead aim on California Chrome, the 2014 Horse of the Year who won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness that year.
"Once I switched over and dropped into the far turn, he really picked it up at that point," Smith said. "Then he was relentless, this horse. He never stops. He's got some stamina."
California Chrome still had an advantage in the upper stretch until Arrogate closed steadily to pull off the upset.
"You saw two champions run," said Art Sherman, California Chrome's 79-year-old trainer. "What can I say? We got outrun on the fair. No excuses. He ran his eyeballs out."
California Chrome returned $2.60 and $2.40. Keen Ice was another 10¾ lengths back in third and paid $5.80 to show.
Late-developing Arrogate gained notice in August at Saratoga, winning the Travers by 13½ lengths with the fastest time in the track's 147-year history.
Then he proved in the Classic he's not a one-race wonder.
"This horse is just learning how to run," Baffert said. "California Chrome is a champion. To run down California Chrome, that's what the Breeders' Cup is all about, watching races like that."
Hoppertunity, also trained by Baffert, was fourth. Melatonin finished fifth, followed by Frosted, Effinex, War Story and Win the Space, who didn't finish.
Shaman Ghost was scratched.
Sports on 11/06/2016