Can Arrogate go out in style? All you need to know about the Classic

Breeders' Cup Classic (Grade 1) | 1m2f | dirt | 3yo+| ATR/RUK

After a record-breaking career punctuated by a number of exclamation marks, Arrogate, the world's highest-rated racehorse, now has more than one question mark against his name as he bids to go out in a blaze of glory.

The four-year-old is having his swansong before stud duties in North America's most prestigious race, in which he forms part of a four-strong team for Bob Baffert, who is out to complete a four-timer in the $6 million contest following the successes of Bayern and Triple Crown hero American Pharoah before Arrogate shot down California Chrome 12 months ago.

In a bid to unseat favourite Gun Runner, the trainer also saddles Arrogate's Pacific Classic conqueror Collected, Travers Stakes winner West Coast and former Dubai-trained Mubtaahij, a trio comprising a formidable array of talent on their own.

However, all eyes will be on Arrogate and jockey 'Big Money' Mike Smith as the Juddmonte colt bids to erase the memories of a pair of substandard displays since he came back from Dubai by exiting the stage as only the second horse in history to win two Breeders' Cup Classics after the redoubtable Tiznow.

At his best, Arrogate is the best horse in the world according to official ratings, a position earned in a remarkable winning streak that also took in last year's Travers – a 13½-length track record tour de force that announced his arrival in the big time before the 2016 Classic, and then the inaugural running of the world's richest race, the Pegasus World Cup.

Then came an astonishing victory in the Dubai World Cup, where he fluffed the break before circling the field and galloping away from none other than Gun Runner.

In a few short months, the long-striding son of Unbridled's Song had become the richest earner in the history of the sport – yet the sheen was soon dimmed with two below-par efforts, first at Classic venue Del Mar, where he looked a shadow of his former self on his return in July, beaten into fourth in Grade 2 company at odds of 1-20. Another sluggish display followed, albeit one showing more promise as he was half a length behind stablemate Collected in the Pacific Classic.

"The trip to Dubai probably took more out of him than anybody thought," said Baffert, who blames himself for Arrogate's dismal summer.

"He still could have run better, but I think a lot of it is the way I prepared him. I take the blame for him getting beat the first time. The second time, it looked like he wasn't going to run and all of a sudden he started running at the end. But we know what Arrogate is capable of and I think he should run well."

Arrogate is drawn on the inner, which means another slow break won't help his cause; in any event, Smith is set to ask Arrogate to sit closer to the pace.

"You have to be in it turning for home,” said Baffert. “You’re not going to make up a lot of ground; you've got to stay within striking distance. He ran a respectable race in the Pacific Classic. But I know he can do better."

Apparent second string Collected is berthed on the wide outside of the 11-runner field.

"Arrogate seems to get the one draw a lot," said Baffert. "We have a long run to the first turn but I like being on the outside better. It was a good draw for Collected."

Unbeaten in four starts this season, Collected seems to relish Del Mar.

"It can be a tricky track," added Baffert. "This is made for a horse like Collected or Gun Runner, where they can get out there and their speed is dangerous. They can zip around those turns. Gun Runner is the horse to beat and Collected loves this place."

Like Baffert's previous three winners, West Coast is a three-year-old, and an ultra-progressive one at that.

"He's a true mile-and-a-quarter horse," said Baffert. "I wouldn't be surprised if West Coast won. I’ve won it with three-year-olds and he looks good. They all look good."

In this company, former Mike de Kock-trained Mubtaahij looks an outsider, but the 2015 UAE Derby winner made a successful debut for his new trainer in first-time blinkers in the principal California trial for this at Santa Anita last month.

Arrogate pros World-beater at best and looked invincible against all-comers up to and including Dubai World Cup, where he outpointed Gun Runner for second time; has looked more like old self in recent workouts

Arrogate cons Not looked the force of old in two starts at Del Mar since Dubai; may have lost sparkle, or may just not like this track, where another slow break could mean curtains

Collected pros Never beaten in seven starts on fast dirt tracks and loves Del Mar, where he beat Arrogate last time out to maintain unblemished 2017 record

Collected cons Likes to lead and got his own way in Pacific Classic; will surely face more pressure up front than he's used to and must get usual good break from outside post; still needs to find more to beat a peak-form Arrogate

West Coast pros Rapidly improving colt is now clear leader of three-year-old division, despite not making debut until February; appreciates this distance and comes here after two dominant Grade 1 wins to take winning streak to five

West Coast cons Has never faced older horses, nor rivals of this magnitude, and has never run at Del Mar - and loses Mike Smith to Arrogate

Mubtaahij pros
Much to like about winning debut for Baffert in Grade 1 trial for this last month at Santa Anita and suited by distance

Mubtaahij cons
Miles behind Arrogate and Gun Runner in Dubai and needs to find a lot more to trouble the scorers; generally struggled in top US company in the past and has never run at Del Mar

Gun Runner in form of his life

Such has been Gun Runner's progress since he was run down by Arrogate in a sensational Dubai World Cup that the Steve Asmussen-trained four-year-old has supplanted his Meydan conqueror at the head of the market for the Classic.

Whereas the world's highest-rated horse has stuttered since Dubai, Gun Runner hasn't put a foot wrong.

Under regular partner Florent Geroux, the son of Candy Ride burnished his reputation with a string of spectacular wide-margin victories in Grade 1 company, starting off with a seven-length romp as he made all in the Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs in June, before victories at Saratoga in the Whitney and the Woodward, by five and ten lengths respectively.

"We're just blessed to have a horse like him," said Asmussen, who won America's most prestigious race with Curlin a decade ago. "He's very confident. He's a popcorn right now; ready to run."

Gun Runner's most recent success was impressive indeed, showing how far the horse has come since he was beaten into second place 12 months ago in the Dirt Mile at Santa Anita.

"He trains like a machine," added Asmussen. "He’s stronger. He's a better horse at four than he was at three. This is the stage to prove where Gun Runner is at. It's obviously a very special running of the Classic.”

Owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds, Gun Runner has always been a solid, consistent type at the highest level – he was, after all, third in the Kentucky Derby in his three-year-old season – but he has failed to win in three previous attempts at the Classic distance.

"I think a mile and a quarter is always a question mark because it's a tough distance for any horse, but he ran a great race in Dubai and the track wasn't fast that day," said Geroux, who has ridden Gun Runner in his last 14 starts.

"It was deeper and looser than what he'll run over at Del Mar and he galloped out great that day.

"He means a lot to me and is the best horse I've ever ridden. He’s really matured very nicely. Sometimes they get better from two to three and then from three to four, and he did — but he really got bigger, stronger and faster from three to four and you can see that in his races.

Pros Taken form to new level since Dubai and may well be suited by tight Del Mar circuit, which plays well to prominent runners of his ilk; doesn't have to lead but can get nice position just behind pace

Cons Failed to win in three previous attempts at Classic distance and has never been to Del Mar; beaten by Arrogate both times they've met

Churchill carries O'Brien's hopes of first Classic

Aidan O'Brien again takes aim at the Classic, with dual Guineas winner Churchill and War Decree this year flying the Ballydoyle flag in a race which has narrowly eluded the trainer on two occasions.

Giant's Causeway, the Iron Horse, lost out to Tiznow by a neck in a bruising encounter in 2000, while Declaration Of War was just a quarter-length behind Mucho Macho Man in 2013. Will O'Brien and Coolmore's long quest for a Classic winner come to fruition at Del Mar?

The task facing Churchill and War Decree is immense. Both are making their dirt debut and do so going up against a star-studded field. Overcoming the likes of Arrogate and Gun Runner, the surface, and the travel would represent a remarkable achievement, even by the unique standards of O'Brien.

Churchill, despite not being bred for the surface, has the most obvious claims, being a four-time Group 1 winner, albeit one that has not topped the podium since landing the Irish 2,000 Guineas in May.

Most recently, he was third a fortnight ago in the QEII, the same race Giant's Causeway was beaten in before his agonising Breeders' Cup defeat 17 years ago.

"We always thought the world of Churchill," said O'Brien. "We thought on his last three runs things didn't go right for him, but we're very happy with the horse.

"He's a miler with plenty of speed who gets a mile and a quarter. He's tough and he's usually dour at the end.

"The Classic was always possible and after Ascot we were very happy with him. He just got stopped at two vital times - a lot of people wouldn't have noticed but he lost his momentum twice in the last two furlongs."

War Decree, a 33-1 shot, has less obvious form claims to be competitive in this company – he was most recently a Group 3 winner at Dundalk – but has the better dirt pedigree, being by War Front, the same sire as Declaration Of War.

"He had a break after the Prix du Jockey Club but we ran him at Dundalk and he won very nicely so we'll see," said O'Brien.

Churchill pros Four-time Group 1 winner is a tough battler who has the class to be competitive in this company

Churchill cons Lack of dirt experience or pedigree suggests this will be a challenge too far