The inaugural running of the world's richest race, the US$12 million Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park, was touted as a match race between California Chrome and Arrogate.
Disappointingly, two-time Horse of the Year California Chrome brought an end to his stellar racetrack career with his worst performance. His Breeders' Cup Classic conqueror, Juddmonte Farms' Arrogate (Unbridled's Song), took the $7 million winners cheque with the minimum of ease by four and three-quarter lengths from Shaman Ghost (Ghostzapper) with Neolithic (Harlan's Holiday) three and a half lengths back in third. (photo Gulfstream Park).
Victor Espinoza was hard at work on California Chrome a long way out and he faded to ninth.
The Bob Baffert-trained Arrogate advances his overall record to 6 wins and 1 third from 7 starts for an incredible $11,084,600 in earnings.
The son of former Arrowfield Stud shuttler Unbridled's Song was recently awarded the honour of Longines World's Best Racehorse in 2016.
Winning rider Mike Smith told The Blood-Horse that he had the race under control a long way out.
"Once I got out going into the far turn I knew we were going to be very tough to beat," Smith said.
"He had a lot of
California Chrome bows out of racing with a record of 16 wins, 4 seconds and 1 third from 27 starts with earnings of $14,502,650.
The son of Lucky Pulpit will retire to Taylor Made Farm for stallion duty, where he will stand the 2017 season for a fee of $40,000.
