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Arrogate runs down California Chrome in thrilling 2016 Breeders' Cup Classic Arrogate rallied to catch California Chrome in the shadow of the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) wire on Saturday at Santa Anita Park to wrap up three-year-old champion honors and put himself in the running for Horse of the Year. The lightly raced sophomore also handed trainer Bob Baffert his third consecutive win in the Classic. Coolmore's Highland Reel wired the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) under a brilliant front-running ride by Seamie Heffernan, defeating Flintshire and turning the tables on defending champion Found. In the process, Aidan O'Brien inched closer to Bobby Frankel's single-season record of 25 Group 1 wins. The Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) also went the way of Europe, as Sir Michael Stoute's Queen's Trust nipped fan favorite Lady Eli in stakes-record time. Frankie Dettori then delivered his trademark flying dismount from the Cheveley Park homebred. The United States struck back in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1), with the Bill Mott-trained Tourist upsetting defending champion Tepin, also in stakes-record time. The WinStar homebred benefited from a superb trip orchestrated by Joel Rosario. Baffert had celebrated a win earlier on the card with another lightly raced sophomore, Drefong, who conquered the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1). And among the distaff speedsters, Finest City dethroned Wavell Avenue in the Filly & Mare Sprint (G1). Classic Empire gutted out a close decision in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) over Not This Time to stamp himself the presumptive two-year-old champion male. Champagne Room upset the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at 33-1 to kick off the Breeders' Cup Saturday action with a bang. Obviously was making his fifth Breeders' Cup appearance on Saturday and finally earned a win in the Championships when taking the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1). For all the Breeders' Cup news, notes, photos, recaps and transcripts for the Classic, Mile, Turf, Sprint, Filly & Mare Sprint, Juvenile, Juvenile Fillies and Turf Sprint, check out the Breeders' Cup News & Notes blog. Commenting on the Eclipse Awards picture in the aftermath of Breeders' Cup 2016, Vance Hanson contends that Arrogate is a worthy Horse of the Year, while Ed DeRosa counters that California Chrome's overall CV makes the Horse of the Year race debatable. Earlier on Saturday came the news that Shaman Ghost was out of the Classic with a fever, and Kellie Reilly filed another edition of Breeders' Cup pedigree fun facts.
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