THE rematch.

The inaugural Pegasus World Cup promised pomp and it will deliver on that promise, offering a final rematch between three-year-old champion Arrogate and Horse of the Year California Chrome.

They squared off in the Breeders’ Cup Classic with Arrogate slowly but surely wearing down California Chrome to win by half a length. In most years, California Chrome would be off to stud, Arrogate would be resting at his California base and a rematch would be an alternative fact (a phrase coined by America’s new president and his staff this week).

But, this isn’t every other year in Thoroughbred racing (or American politics, but that’s for another platform) thanks to Frank Stronach and his far-fetched idea. Stronach and his team created the Pegasus World Cup, asking owners to put up $1 million each to buy a slot in the race. The outlandish idea turned to tangible reality as owners stepped up and, voila, Thoroughbred racing is alive and well in a month which usually is a write-off when it comes to headlines and highlights.

Furthering the drama, the post-position draw skewed the showdown as Arrogate drew the rail and California Chrome drew the outside. There are 10 horses – pylons on the motorway – between the two stars in the nine-furlong stakes.

Arrogate and California Chrome own gears and moves that most horses don’t and should rip past the pylons, creating a final chapter as California Chrome retires and Arrogate goes singly forward as the best horse in racing.

PUSH-BUTTON

“He’s a push-button horse. He’s on his game, he’s as good as I’ve ever seen him right now,” trainer Art Sherman said of California Chrome. “But I’ll tell you one thing, the horse is an amazing horse. He seems to get better with age, you know, like good wine I guess. And he’s just Chrome, and he’s been a lot of fun, a lot of excitement. And we’ll miss him, believe me.”

And he’s just Chrome – nobody said it better.

Mike Smith knows he’s just Chrome but managed to upend the champ with precise dissection in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, stalking and pouncing on California Chrome after leading all the way from the rail in the Travers back in August.

The Hall of Famer isn’t fretting about the rail draw.

“It worked good for us in the Travers so you hope it works for you again. With Arrogate, in this situation, the post that I didn’t want to draw the most is the 12, for him. The one probably isn’t the post I would have chosen either but it is what it is,” Smith said.

“And, you know, he’s sharp right now. He’s been training very aggressive in the morning, so he’s going to be aggressive leaving there being in the one hole.

“So whether that puts him up there like he was in the Travers or sitting off him, we won’t know until you leave there.”

In nine furlongs and $12 million later, we’ll know.