Arrogate wins Travers Stakes at Saratoga in record time

Ridden by Mike E Smith, the Bob Baffert-trained horse also recorded the fastest ever time recorded in the race’s 147-year history.

Having made the early running with stablemate American Freedom in the contest run over a distance of one mile and two furlongs, Arrogate turned into the straight marginally ahead.

However, they once clear, Arrogate really opened up leaving the chasing pack in their wake, crossing the line a remarkable 13½ lengths ahead of the rest of the field and in a record winning time of one minute 59.36 seconds.

American Freedom stayed on to take second, a length and a half in front of Gun Runner back in third, but it was all about Arrogate, who handed Bob Baffert victory in a race in which his star American Pharoah suffered a shock defeat 12 months ago.

Arrogate’s victory comes in his first foray into graded stakes company following wins in two optional claimers and a maiden special weight.

Also on the card at Saratoga was the Longines Sword Dancer Stakes and it was Flintshire who notched his fifth Group/Grade 1 success by easing to a comfortable victory for the second year running.

Ridden by Javier Castellano, Flintshire initially travelled powerfully into contention but when turning for home he looked like he could struggle to find an opening by being penned in on the rail.

However, a gap did appear when the field straightened and that was all that was needed. The Chad Brown-trained six-year-old powered clear, proving far too good for his rivals as he sped away to win by a margin of a length and three quarters.

Money Multiplier took the runner-up honours, with Twilight Eclipse two and three quarters of a length further adrift in third.

Castellano admitted he had been fortunate to get the gap but praised Flintshire’s performance, which with victory has guaranteed his spot in the Breeders’ Cup Turf on 5 November.