July 23rd 2017
The world’s top rated horse Arrogate was beaten yesterday in the San Diego Handicap. The word upset doesn’t seem like a strong enough adjective. Why? Arrogate reeled off the best 6 furlong workout time (1:11) of his career just one week before this race. This was a five horse field that he should have wired. It was a tune-up race without a daunting field to beat. But as they say, this is why they don’t play the games, run the races, on paper.
Arrogate simply didn’t fire yesterday. He hung around in last early in the race with everyone fully expecting the huge plunge to the front. It wasn’t IF….but WHEN. But it never happened. Arrogate made a modest move towards the front going into the final corner. However, he lost his mojo coming out of the turn and was subsequently eased towards the end by jockey Mike Smith.
Now the interesting trivia question. Who is the only horse to have finished ahead of Arrogate twice? The San Diego Handicap winner Accelerate who wired the field by 8 1/2 lengths. Accelerate also finished ahead of Arrogate in his very first start in April 17th 2016 at Los Alamitos.
This result sent shock waves through the sport as I witnessed on Facebook. Seriously, I didn’t think this many fans were watching this. Now who the 2017 Breeders’ Cup Classic favorite will be is totally up in the air. The Classic will be run at the same track, Del Mar. Perhaps this is what the sport needed as it looked like it was a foregone conclusion that Arrogate would waltz to another Classic victory.
Saratoga Races on Fox Sports 2
Fox Sports 2 is going to air live telecasts of races at Saratoga pretty much every day (starting around 3 or 5 pm CST) all through next weekend. Tuesday July 25th is the only day that they won’t broadcast live races. The big upcoming races next weekend are the Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga on Saturday July 29th and the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on Sunday July 30th. I will preview both races and have this out by Friday evening.
My new Food, Wine and Travel Blog
Be sure to check out my new food, wine and travel blog: https://mikesfoodwineandtravel.wordpress.com
–-Michael
Hi Mike, Bonjorno when copper bullet will run. Jim Dandy ?
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Pete, Copper Bullet is a 2 year old so he can’t run in the Jim Dandy Stakes. I am monitoring his workouts and will preview the next race he is in.
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where is the Jim Dandy/Haskell update you promised by 7/28 ?
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Pete, there is not to preview for the Jim Dandy Stakes. It appears to be a 2 horse showdown (Always Dreaming vs Cloud Computing) I will have the Haskell Invitational out Sunday morning
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