Mike Smith | Horse Racing Free Tips

Flashback: Arrogate’s ‘Secretariat’ Performance In The Dubai World Cup

The Dubai World Cup meeting celebrates its historic 25th anniversary on March 27, with six Group 1 races and three Group 2s, including one of the world's premier races, the $12 million Dubai World Cup, sponsored by Emirates Airline.

Over the next few days, the Dubai Racing Club will pay tribute to each of the previous Dubai World Cup winners. Today, we rewind to 2017 when Arrogate pulled off a thrilling win for American trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Mike Smith.

Arrogate came rolling through the desert of Dubai and wowed the world with a Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) performance that will be remembered for decades to come. Owned by the iconic Juddmonte Farms, trained by America's premier classic-race conditioner Bob Baffert and ridden by the leading 'big-money rider' Mike Smith, Arrogate was not exactly a rags-to-riches story, but the gray son of Unbridled's Song's tale of accomplishing the impossible was no less incredible.

The moment the gates opened in the US $10 million affair, the 4-year-old colt's chances were all but lost when horses to the outside and inside pinched him back to last. Appearing helplessly beaten from the get-go, he spotted the field several lengths and was placed in an astern position he had never experienced. But Arrogate would not be denied. Quickly gaining composure under confident handling, the highest-rated horse in the world gradually inhaled his opponents one-by-one in dramatic, deliberate fashion.

The anticipation of the crowd grew with each horse he put away until he finally got to country-mate, subsequent Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner and American Horse of the Year Gun Runner… but the showdown lasted mere moments as Arrogate passed his chestnut rival in an instant. Forging to the front, he won comfortably in the end, blowing the proverbial roof off the gargantuan Meydan grandstand and becoming the richest racehorse to ever look through a bridle.

Trainer Bob Baffert was quoted saying: “We had not seen a performance like that since (1973 American Triple Crown winner) Secretariat.”

Previous to the Dubai World Cup, Arrogate won the $1 million Travers Stakes (G1), $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) and $12 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) in succession. He won on the lead, stalking and coming from behind, while making countless G1 winners and numerous champions from around the globe look like ordinary horses. And he did it with style. There is only one Arrogate and on March 25, 2017, the world saw the culmination of his greatness.

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‘Still Green’ Life Is Good Exits San Felipe Romp In Good Order

Life Is Good: unbeaten, unchallenged, undaunted.

The $525,000 son of Into Mischief posted his third straight victory Saturday in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., breaking like a shot from his inside post position and rolling to an eight-length triumph despite meandering through the stretch.

Next up: the G1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby April 3.

“He came out of the race really well,” Bob Baffert said Sunday morning. “We're looking at staying home for the Santa Anita Derby.”

Mike Smith, who has ridden Life Is Good in each of his three races, attributed the bay colt's drifting through the lane to ogling at the track's infield screen.

“When the screen is lit up, they can see it,” Smith said after the race. “In the mornings, he goes by the screen like it's nothing because it's not on. He was locked on it down the lane today. He's so talented. I had a strong hold on him down to the wire, just holding onto him, making sure that he stayed straight.”

But Baffert, who added to his record of seven San Felipe victories, was unconcerned about the colt's sightseeing antics and wasn't contemplating any equipment changes.

“He's still green,” Baffert said matter-of-factly. “Remember Authentic did all that weaving one race … they're still babies. They're still immature. The main thing is he came out of it really well. We saw a lot of raw talent yesterday.”

Baffert trainee Medina Spirit, purchased for 15 times less than Life Is Good ($35,000), ran a game second in the San Felipe under John Velazquez, who won the Kentucky Derby for Baffert last year on Authentic, eventual Horse of the Year.

“He's a good horse and we needed to run first or second (with him) to continue on (the Triple Crown trail),” Baffert said.

“He'll either run here (in the Runhappy Santa Anita Derby) or the Arkansas Derby April 10). I'm not sure yet.”

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Into Mischief Colt Life Is Good Crushes San Felipe Rivals

Over a racetrack that has not been producing sizzling times, Bob Baffert's Life Is Good, in only his third career start, rendered six rivals insignificant as he fairly waltzed to a massive eight-length win in Saturday's Grade 2, $300,000 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., further affirming his status as the West's dominant Kentucky Derby hopeful. Ridden by Mike Smith, Life Is Good led gate to wire and despite the fact he drifted out very wide through the lane, stopped the clock for 1 1/6 miles in a rapid 1:42.18.

Breaking from the rail, Life Is Good was instantly in command, with Smith sitting still as he enjoyed a 2 ½ length lead seven furlongs from home. Down the backside, Life Is Good was totally unpressured and was four lengths clear mid-way around the far turn. From there, it seemed it was just a matter of how far he'd win by as he maintained an insurmountable advantage.

While providing Baffert with his record eighth San Felipe win, Life Is Good, a colt by Into Mischief, out of the Distorted Humor mare Beach Walk, picked up 50 Kentucky Derby qualifying points, giving him 60 total and thus assuring himself a berth in the Run for the Roses on May 1 while also firmly establishing himself the heavy favorite for the Grade I Runhappy Santa Anita Derby on April 3.

“I think he showed that he could get the distance, when a horse can get a mile and a sixteenth the way he did today, it gives you every indication they could go an eighth of a mile further,” said Smith.

When asked about the fact Life Is Good drifted out to about the 10-path in deep stretch, Smith attributed it to Santa Anita's Infield Big Screen.

“When the Big Screen is lit up, they can see it,” said Smith. “In the mornings, he goes by the screen like it's nothing because it's not on. He was locked on it down the lane today. He's just so talented. I had a strong hold on him down to the wire, just holding onto him, making sure that he stayed straight.”

A gate to wire winner of the G3 Sham Stakes going one mile on Jan. 2, Life Is Good was off at 1-2 and paid $3.00, $2.20 and $2.10.

“I like the way he got away from the gate, both of my horses (including runner-up Medina Spirit) got away cleanly, they were in a good spot,” said Baffert, who will now go about angling on winning his record 10th Santa Anita Derby. “Down the backside, that's where this horse can get a little tough and I was hoping we'd get a little 47 and change (half mile). But Mike just sat on him, he was doing it so easily, I saw 46 and four, I said, 'Well, I think I could live with that.' I always thought he would be a super horse … but at the quarter pole, I could tell he was just still cruising, just doing it easy.”

Owned by CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm, Life Is Good, who is unbeaten in three starts, picked up $180,000 for the win, increasing his earnings to $274,200.

A close second to Life Is Good in the Sham, Medina Spirit never threatened his stablemate, but shook off a challenge from Dream Shake in the final three sixteenths to be second by 2 ¼ lengths. Off at 3-1 with John Velazquez, Medina Spirit paid $2.80 and $2.20.

Dream Shake, who came off an impressive first-time maiden win sprinting, was third best, finishing 3 ¼ lengths better than Roman Centurian. Off at 8-1 with Joel Rosario, Dream Shake paid $3.00 to show.

Fractions on the race, all set by the winner, were 23.63, 46.83, 1:10.55 and 1:35.46.

In addition to the 50 Kentucky Derby qualifying points awarded to the winner, the second, third and fourth place finishers will receive 20, 10 and five.

Updated Kentucky Derby leaderboard

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Life Is Good Justifies the Hype in San Felipe

Representing part of the group that campaigned 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify (Scat Daddy), and sharing a sire and some quirks with last year's Horse of the Year Authentic (Into Mischief), Life Is Good further asserted his position as the best of Bob Baffert's current crop of 3-year-olds Saturday, demolishing his competition in the GII San Felipe S. at Santa Anita. WinStar Farm and CHC Inc.'s 'TDN Rising Star' was a 9 1/2-length sprint winner on debut at Del Mar Nov. 22, and had been off since defeating stablemate Medina Spirit (Protonico) by 3/4 of a length in the Jan. 2 GIII Sham S., good for a 101 Beyer Speed Figure.

Right to the lead from the rail as expected, the overwhelming 1-2 favorite was able to get several lengths of separation down the backside as a hard-held Medina Spirit took the first turn wide, floating The Great One (Nyquist) wider. Still traveling well within himself after a :48.83 half, the bay entered the stretch some five lengths to the good, but again displayed his previously seen antics of drifting out in the stretch. He had the extra ground to give up, however, and cruised under the line a jaw-dropping eight lengths clear. Medina Spirit held second, while 'Rising Stars' Dream Shake (Twirling Candy) and Roman Centurian (Empire Maker) completed the trifecta and super, respectively.

“He's learning to settle. He's maturing and getting smarter,” said winning rider Mike Smith, who also rode Justify. “Early on, he was so used to exploding from the pole or the gate. He's learning how to run now which is the big key, and he's learning how to get into a rhythm. The rhythm is going to be a bit fast because he is that good and he has an extremely high cruising speed. We are going to have to work on some little quirks. He starts looking at things because he is out there by himself, but I can't take so much of a hold of him to give him company either, so it's a catch-22.

The Hall of Famer continued, “He's just so talented. I had a strong hold on him down to the wire, just holding onto him making sure that he stayed straight… This horse is like that Muhammad Ali song. He floats like a butterfly, and stings like a bee.”

As for Life Is Good's potential to stretch out further, Smith said, “I think he showed that he could get the distance, when a horse can get a mile and sixteenth the way he did today, it gives you every indication they could go an eighth of a mile further.”

Baffert added, “”I like the way he got away from the gate, both of my horses got away cleanly, they were in a good spot. Down the backside that's where this horse can get a little tough and I was hoping we'd get a little 47 and change. But Mike he just sat on him, he was doing it so easily, I saw 46 and four I said, 'well, I think I could live with that. I always thought he could be a super horse, we'll find out today', but at the quarter pole I could tell he was just still cruising, just doing it easy. I just feel fortunate that I have this horse in my barn. My horse that ran second (Medina Spirit), he's a really nice horse and I felt bad I had to run him against him, but they need these races and I didn't want to ship yet so I'm just happy for the China Horse Club. It's nice to come out here, it feels a little festive today watching these good horses run.”

Life Is Good was made the 7-1 favorite among individual betting choices in the GI Kentucky Derby future wager pool that closed Feb. 14. As of Saturday evening he was the 4-1 public pick in the pool set to close Sunday evening. He is now tied with last Saturday's GII Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth S. winner Greatest Honour (Tapit) atop the GI Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 60 points.

Saturday, Santa Anita
SAN FELIPE S.-GII, $301,000, Santa Anita, 3-6, 3yo, 1 1/16m, 1:42.18, ft.
1–LIFE IS GOOD, 122, c, 3, by Into Mischief
                1st Dam: Beach Walk, by Distorted Humor
                2nd Dam: Bonnie Blue Flag, by Mineshaft
                3rd Dam: Tap Your Feet, by Dixieland Band
($525,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-WinStar Farm LLC and CHC INC.;
B-Gary & Mary West Stables Inc. (KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-Mike E.
Smith. $180,000. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $274,200.
'TDN Rising Star'. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click
for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Medina Spirit, 122, c, 3, Protonico–Mongolian Changa, by
Brilliant Speed. ($1,000 Ylg '19 OBSWIN; $35,000 2yo '20
OBSOPN). O-Zedan Racing Stables Inc; B-Gail Rice (FL); T-Bob
Baffert. $60,000.
3–Dream Shake, 120, c, 3, Twirling Candy–Even Song, by Street
Cry (Ire). ($32,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP; $75,000 2yo '20 OBSAPR).
O-Exline-Border Racing LLC, SAF Racing and Hausman,
Richard; B-Dunwoody Farm (KY); T-Peter Eurton. $36,000.
'TDN Rising Star'
Margins: 8, 2 1/4, 3 1/4. Odds: 0.50, 3.30, 8.70.
Also Ran: Roman Centurian, The Great One, None Above the Law, Govenor's Party. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

Pedigree Notes:

After being perched on various stages of the Derby trail the past few years with luminaries like champions Maximum Security (New Year's Day), Game Winner (Candy Ride {Arg}), and West Coast (Flatter), breeders Gary and Mary West are back this year in a big way with last month's GII San Vicente S. winner Concert Tour (Street Sense)–who they still own–and Life Is Good, both undefeated, and both 'TDN Rising Stars'.

Life Is Good also has the nation's hottest sire going for him in Into Mischief, whose 90 black-type winners and 37 graded winners include last year's Horse of the Year Authentic. The Spendthrift sire currently leads the 2021 North American rankings by earnings, black-type horses, and graded winners. Life Is Good's broodmare sire, Distorted Humor, is also one of the best in the business with 108 stakes winners out of his daughters. Five stakes winners (and 12 stakes performers) are specifically by Into Mischief out of a Distorted Humor mare, including MGISW Practical Joke.

Life Is Good's dam, Beach Walk, who sold as a $435,000 Keeneland September yearling, has a 2020 filly by Blame and was bred back to Candy Ride (Arg). Beach Walk's dam, SW & MGISP Bonnie Blue Flag (Mineshaft), sold for $1.5 million at Fasig-Tipton in 2011, but had dropped to just $15,000 at Keeneland in 2019. Bonnie Blue Flag's fourth dam, Court Circuit (Royal Vale), produced MGSWs Honorable Miss (Damascus), whose name is still honored with a graded race at Saratoga, and Bailjumper (Damascus), who still appears in pedigrees as the broodmare sire of super stallion Medaglia d'Oro.

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