Sports Briefs: Another big purse in Baffert’s crosshairs

Arrogate looks for redemption at Pacific Classic

It’s even odds for Arrogate, the 4-year-old colt trained by La Cañada Flintridge resident Bob Baffert.

Arrogate is entered into Saturday’s Grade I $1 million TVG Pacific Classic at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club race track.

Arrogate is the favorite and listed at 1-1 odds with jockey Mike Smith. One of its two biggest competitors is Collected (5-2), ridden by Martin Garcia and also trained by Baffert.

Accelerate, ridden by Victor Espinoza, is at 3-1 odds.

Arrogate is the all-time highest-earning horse, having won purses totaling $17.1 million.

Yet, the horse’s dominance was questioned when Arrogate last ran at Del Mar in the San Diego Handicap on July 22. Baffert’s money-maker was trounced by 15 lengths by Accelerate as Arrogate finished fourth in the worst race of the horse’s career.

The victory was the third in three tries at Del Mar for Accelerate, which received Saturday’s No. 3 draw. Arrogate was given the outside post.

A triumph Saturday would be Baffert’s first in the Pacific Classic since Game on Dude, ridden by Garcia, took home the title in 2013.

The race is slated for 5:45 p.m. with coverage beginning on the NBC Sports Network at 5.

Morikawa eliminated in US Amateur Championship

Collin Morikawa’s bid to win the United States Amateur Championship fell by the wayside Thursday.

Morikawa, a four-time All-Area Boys’ Golfer of the Year at La Cañada High, lost in a round-of-16 match at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades. Chun An Yu of Chinese Taipei defeated Morikawa, 2 up.

Earlier Thursday. Morikawa, who attends the University of California, defeated Dylan Perry of Australia, 1 up, in a round of 32 match.

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