Arrogate (USA)
April 11, 2013 – June 2, 2020
Unbridled's Song (USA) x Bubbler (USA), by Distorted Humor (USA)
Family 16-g
April 11, 2013 – June 2, 2020
Unbridled's Song (USA) x Bubbler (USA), by Distorted Humor (USA)
Family 16-g
After making his first four starts in maiden and optional claiming company, Arrogate burst on the scene in the 2016 Travers Stakes (USA-G1). Sent against the best 3-year-old colts still in training, Arrogate took the track from the start and simply annihilated his opposition, winning by 13½ lengths and breaking General Assembly's 37-year-old track and stakes record. 10 weeks later, he proved that his monster effort was no fluke by running down 2014 American Horse of the Year California Chrome in the shadow of the wire in the Breeders' Cup Classic (USA-G1). Arrogate remained in training as a 4-year-old and opened his 2017 campaign with dominating victories in the inaugural Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (USA-G1) and the Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1). Unfortunately, he closed his career with three straight disappointing defeats, all at Del Mar, leaving behind only the memory of the brilliance he had displayed early in the year. Equally sadly, he died after only a short career at stud.
Race record
11 starts, 7 wins, 1 seconds, 1 third, US$17,422,600
2016:
2017:
Honors
Assessments
Arrogate earned the top rating of 134 pounds on the Longines World's Best Racehorse rankings for 2016 based on his victory in the 2016 Breeders' Cup Classic (USA-G1), in which he defeated second-ranked California Chrome by a half-length.
Arrogate earned the top rating of 134 pounds on the Longines World's Best Racehorse rankings for 2017 based on his victory in the 2017 Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1), in which he missed the break and still won easily by 2¼ lengths over Gun Runner.
As an individual
A striking gray (officially registered as gray or roan), Arrogate was said to stand close to 17 hands; Juddmonte gave his height as 16.2½ hands. In spite of his hocks being somewhat out behind him, he had exceptional leverage from hip to hock and a long stride. He was a rather short-necked horse but ran with his head carried low. He could make the pace or stalk it. A handful during his early training, he did not race at 2 as trainer Bob Baffert felt he needed extra time to grow into his big frame and gain mental maturity.
As a sire
As of May 18, 2024, Arrogate has sired 22 stakes winners from 325 named foals of racing age. His last foals are 3-year-olds of 2024.
Notable progeny
And Tell Me Nolies (USA), Arcangelo (USA), Cave Rock (USA), Fun to Dream (USA), Secret Oath (USA), Seize the Grey (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Arrogate was bred by Clearsky Farm. He was owned by Juddmonte Farms, which paid US$560,000 for him at the 2014 Keeneland September yearling sale. He was trained by Bob Baffert. He entered stud in Kentucky in 2018 at Juddmonte Farms. He was humanely destroyed in June 2020 after a short but severe illness that left him unable to stand.
Pedigree notes
Arrogate is inbred 4x4 to two-time American champion sire Mr. Prospector and 5x5 to 1968 Metropolitan Handicap winner and important sire In Reality. A half brother to stakes winner Osare (by Medaglia d'Oro), he is the first foal of Grade 3-placed listed stakes winner Bubbler, who is a half sister to stakes winner Unbridled Femme (by Unbridled).
Bubbler is out of Grade 3-placed Grechelle (by Deputy Minister), whose full sister Field of Vision is the second dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Belle Gallantey. Grechelle, in turn, is out of 1990 American champion 2-year-old filly Meadow Star (by Meadowlake), whose dam Inreality Star (by In Reality--Imanative, by Native Dancer) also produced Grade 3 winner Optic Nerve (by Majestic Light). Inreality Star, a winning full sister to Grade 2 winner Par Flite and a half sister to four other stakes winners including 1981 Arlington Classic Stakes (USA-G1) winner Fairway Phantom (by What a Pleasure) and Grade 3 winner Muscle (by Cornish Prince), is also the dam of Meadow Star's full sister Retiro Park, dam of Grade 3 winner Snorter (by Awesome Again).
Books and media
Footage of Arrogate's victory in the 2016 Breeders' Cup Classic can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zD-9B7MD3g0.
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photo by Mike Sekulic, taken during a January 2017 workout at Santa Anita. Used by permission.
Last updated: May 18, 2024
Race record
11 starts, 7 wins, 1 seconds, 1 third, US$17,422,600
2016:
- Won Travers Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Saratoga; new track record 1:59.36)
- Won Breeders' Cup Classic (USA-G1, 10FD, Santa Anita)
2017:
- Won Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Gulfstream Park; new track record 1:46.83)
- Won Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1, 2000mD, Meydan)
- 2nd TVG Pacific Classic Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Del Mar)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (elected in 2023)
- Eclipse Award, American champion 3-year-old male (2016)
- Eclipse Award finalist, American Horse of the Year (2016, 2017)
- Eclipse Award finalist, American champion older male (2017)
- Kentucky-bred Horse of the Year (2016)
- Kentucky-bred champion 3-year-old male (2016)
Assessments
Arrogate earned the top rating of 134 pounds on the Longines World's Best Racehorse rankings for 2016 based on his victory in the 2016 Breeders' Cup Classic (USA-G1), in which he defeated second-ranked California Chrome by a half-length.
Arrogate earned the top rating of 134 pounds on the Longines World's Best Racehorse rankings for 2017 based on his victory in the 2017 Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1), in which he missed the break and still won easily by 2¼ lengths over Gun Runner.
As an individual
A striking gray (officially registered as gray or roan), Arrogate was said to stand close to 17 hands; Juddmonte gave his height as 16.2½ hands. In spite of his hocks being somewhat out behind him, he had exceptional leverage from hip to hock and a long stride. He was a rather short-necked horse but ran with his head carried low. He could make the pace or stalk it. A handful during his early training, he did not race at 2 as trainer Bob Baffert felt he needed extra time to grow into his big frame and gain mental maturity.
As a sire
As of May 18, 2024, Arrogate has sired 22 stakes winners from 325 named foals of racing age. His last foals are 3-year-olds of 2024.
Notable progeny
And Tell Me Nolies (USA), Arcangelo (USA), Cave Rock (USA), Fun to Dream (USA), Secret Oath (USA), Seize the Grey (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Arrogate was bred by Clearsky Farm. He was owned by Juddmonte Farms, which paid US$560,000 for him at the 2014 Keeneland September yearling sale. He was trained by Bob Baffert. He entered stud in Kentucky in 2018 at Juddmonte Farms. He was humanely destroyed in June 2020 after a short but severe illness that left him unable to stand.
Pedigree notes
Arrogate is inbred 4x4 to two-time American champion sire Mr. Prospector and 5x5 to 1968 Metropolitan Handicap winner and important sire In Reality. A half brother to stakes winner Osare (by Medaglia d'Oro), he is the first foal of Grade 3-placed listed stakes winner Bubbler, who is a half sister to stakes winner Unbridled Femme (by Unbridled).
Bubbler is out of Grade 3-placed Grechelle (by Deputy Minister), whose full sister Field of Vision is the second dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Belle Gallantey. Grechelle, in turn, is out of 1990 American champion 2-year-old filly Meadow Star (by Meadowlake), whose dam Inreality Star (by In Reality--Imanative, by Native Dancer) also produced Grade 3 winner Optic Nerve (by Majestic Light). Inreality Star, a winning full sister to Grade 2 winner Par Flite and a half sister to four other stakes winners including 1981 Arlington Classic Stakes (USA-G1) winner Fairway Phantom (by What a Pleasure) and Grade 3 winner Muscle (by Cornish Prince), is also the dam of Meadow Star's full sister Retiro Park, dam of Grade 3 winner Snorter (by Awesome Again).
Books and media
Footage of Arrogate's victory in the 2016 Breeders' Cup Classic can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zD-9B7MD3g0.
Fun facts
- Arrogate is the second American stakes winner of that name. The first, a son of Goya II and the Stimulus mare Hug Again, won nine stakes races in 1953–1958 including two editions of the Del Mar Handicap.
- Arrogate's Beyer Speed Figure of 122 for the Travers Stakes was the highest awarded to any 3-year-old of 2016 and was the highest awarded for a race at a distance longer than a mile since Commentator earned a 123 rating while winning the 2005 Whitney Handicap.
- Arrogate earned the highest Equibase speed figure for a 3-year-old male of 2016, getting a 124 for his victory in the Breeders' Cup Classic.
- With his victory in the Dubai World Cup on March 25, 2017, Arrogate became the leading money winner among North American-based Thoroughbreds.
Photo credit
Photo by Mike Sekulic, taken during a January 2017 workout at Santa Anita. Used by permission.
Last updated: May 18, 2024