Arrogate upsets California Chrome to win 2016 Breeders’ Cup Classic

The long-awaited battle between California Chrome and Arrogate did not disappoint, with Arrogate prevailing in the $6 million 2016 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park.

With Victor Espinoza in the saddle, California Chrome got off to an early lead and stayed there nearly the entire race, only to be surpassed down the stretch from the outside by the upstart Arrogate, who won the 1¼-mile race by a half-length, in 2:00.11.

California Chrome, the favorite at 4-5 odds on Saturday, suffered his first loss in seven races in 2016.

Arrogate, who won the Travers Stakes back in August, has won five straight races.

“He’s a young LeBron James, man,” jockey Mike Smith said of Arrogate before the race on the NBC broadcast. “What he lacks in experience, he gains in talent.”

Smith has won four Breeders’ Cup Classics in his career.

Keen Ice finished in third place, 11¼ lengths back.

The 5-year-old Chrome was the Horse of the Year in 2014 after winning the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. The horse finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Classic that year.

“There’s such a difference between how he’s coming into this year’s Classic and then. Now he’s got his game face on when he gets to the paddock. He’s all business; he knows what he has to do,” trainer Art Sherman told the Associated Press on Friday. “Chrome is bigger and stronger than ever. The way he runs now, he’s become a push button horse; he’ll do whatever Victor asks of him.”

California Chrome lost to Bayern in 2014, trained by Bob Baffert, who also trained Arrogate. The win gives Baffert a third straight Breeders’ Cup Classic victory. Baffert said that he was surprised with the win.