Tom Pedulla of America’s Best Racing asks, and answers, five major questions stemming from Arrogate’s authoritative victory in the $12 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational on Saturday.
The saga of California Chrome is over and, yes, Chromies will lament the absence of a storybook end. His ninth-place finish to the brilliant Arrogate in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational on Saturday was not what Hollywood had in mind.
For many horsemen at Fair Grounds, the past month has been fraught with worry over an equine herpesvirus outbreak and quarantine restrictions. Trainer Neil Howard may have been equally concerned, but at least one horse in his barn helped ease the burden—W.S. Farish’s and Lora Jean Kilroy’s Guest Suite, who trained perfectly up to the Jan.
Making the Grade, which will run through the 2017 Belmont Stakes, focuses on the winners or top performers of the big races, usually from the previous weekend, who could impact the next Triple Crown. We’ll be taking a close look at impressive winners and evaluating their chances to win classic races based upon ability, running style, connections (owner, trainer, jockey) and pedigree.