Late burst allows Arrogate to defeat California Chrome in Breeders’ Cup Classic

ARCADIA, Calif. – Arrogate overhauled 4-5 favorite California Chrome in the final 100 yards to win the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Saturday.

It was California Chrome’s first loss in seven starts this year; Arrogate won his fifth straight race.

California Chrome and Victor Espinoza led most of the 1 1/4-mile race, with Melatonin second and Arrogate and Mike Smith loping along in third place.

“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 took up the chase, with Smith first whipping the 3-year-old colt left-handed and then right through the stretch as they gained on California Chrome, the 2014 Horse of the Year who won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness that year.

“I gave him a few reminders left-handed,” Smith said. “Then I went back right to surprise him. When I did that, he gave me another jump. That is what got us on by.”

Arrogate caught California Chrome to win by a half-length, giving Smith his third Cup victory of the weekend and record 25th of his career. Trainer Bob Baffert earned his record third consecutive Classic win.

“I was surprised I beat him,” Baffert said. “I didn’t think I could beat him going in.”

Arrogate finished in 2:00.11 and paid $5.40, $2.80 and $2.60.

California Chrome returned $2 and $2.40. Keen Ice was another 10 3/4 lengths back in third and paid $5.80 to show.

“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.”

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.

In other races:

Classic Empire won the $2 million Juvenile by a neck, making him the winter favorite for next year’s Kentucky Derby.

Ridden by Julien Leparoux, Classic Empire ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.60 and paid $11 to win as the 9-2 second choice.

Trained by Kentucky-based Mark Casse, Classic Empire has won four of five career starts, losing only when he tossed his rider in the Hopeful at Saratoga in September.

Not This Time, the 5-2 favorite, was second and Practical Joke third. Lookin At Lee finished fourth in the 11-horse field.

Baffert won his fifth career Sprint race with Drefong, who scored by 1 1/4 lengths.

Ridden by Martin Garcia, Drefong ran six furlongs in 1:08.79 and paid $9.80 to win as the 7-2 third choice in the $1.5 million race.

Baffert also won in 1992, 2007, 2008 and 2013.

Masochistic, the 8-5 favorite ridden by Smith, finished second. Mind Your Biscuits was third.

Smith scored an upset victory in the $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint with 8-1 shot Finest City.

It was the jockey’s second Cup victory of the weekend and the 24th of his career, which is tops among riders in the event’s 33-year history. He also leads all riders in money won. Finest City won by three-quarters of a length. The 4-year-old filly ran seven furlongs in 1:22.37 and paid $19.40 to win.

Defending champion Wavell Avenue was second and Paulassilverling was third.

Highland Reel held off favored Flintshire by 1 3/4 lengths to win the $4 million Turf.

Trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Seamus Heffernan, Highland Reel ran 1 1/2 miles in 2:23.00 and paid $9.60 to win. Defending champion Found was third.

O’Brien earned his 11th career Cup victory, including his sixth in the Turf, making him the international trainer with the most wins in the event.

Tourist held off a late charge from defending champion Tepin to win the $2 million Mile by a half-length.

Trained by Bill Mott and ridden by Joel Rosario, Tourist ran the distance 1:31.71, breaking the Cup record of 1:31.78 set by Wise Dan at Santa Anita in 2013. He paid $26.80 to win.

Obviously became the first favorite to win on the weekend, taking the lead shortly out of the starting gate and holding off Om by a nose in the $1 million Turf Sprint.

Trained by Phil D’Amato and ridden by Flavien Prat, Obviously ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:11.33 and paid $9.60 to win. It was the first Cup victory for D’Amato and Prat.

Obviously earned his first Cup win in five tries at age 8. The gelding was the oldest horse in the field of 14.

Champagne Room got the day started with a 30-1 upset in the $2 million Juvenile Fillies. Ridden by Mario Gutierrez, Champagne Room ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.12 and paid $69.20 to win by three-quarters of a length.

Valadorna was second, followed by 4-1 favorite American Gal.

Queen’s Trust caught 8-5 favorite Lady Eli at the finish line to win the $2 million Filly & Mare Turf by a nose, the first victory for Europe on the weekend. Ridden by Frankie Dettori, Queen’s Trust ran 1 1/4 miles in 1:57.75, bettering the mark of 1:58.73 set by Dank in the 2013 edition. She paid $18 to win at 8-1 odds.

Trainer Michael Stoute earned his seventh career Cup victory, while Dettori picked up his 12th.