Time for Arrogate to retire: Baffert

Trainer Bob Baffert says it is time for Arrogate to retire from racing following a disappointing run at the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar.

Arrogate, the all-time leading money winner among North American thoroughbreds and last year’s Classic champion, never threatened winner Gun Runner on Saturday (Sunday AEDT), finishing fifth in the 11-horse race.

“I hate to make any excuses for the big horse but he’s just not the horse he was,” Baffert said.

“He’s just losing interest and I think that’s what it is. He’s run so many incredible races that I really think he’s just losing interest. That’s what it is. It’s time (for him to retire).”

In a stellar 2016, Arrogate won the Travers Stakes in his first stakes appearance, defeated the vaunted California Chrome in the Classic and was named IFHA’s World’s Best Racehorse.

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The grey colt, who is owned by Juddmonte Farms, went on to win the Pegasus World Cup and pulled off a thrilling come-from-behind win at Dubai World Cup this year.

He came into Saturday’s race in a slump, having lost his past two starts, both at Del Mar.

“He struggles over this track, but when I got him up to Santa Anita, I thought maybe,” Baffert added.

Despite the loss, two of Baffert’s three other horses performed well.

Four-year-old Collected ran second and put pressure on the speedy Gun Runner down the straight while three-year-old West Coast finished third.