The championship races at the 2016 Breeders Cup lived up to expectations and after the Beholder V Songbird duel on Friday night California Chrome and Arrogate served up another thriller in the Classic with the three-year-old Travers winner running down California Chrome. It gave Bob Baffert three Classics in a row and Mike Smith, this time triumphant, three wins also and a total of 25 Breeders Cup wins.

Arrogate was still a maiden in June of this year, and on ony his sixth start he capped off a remarkable double, proving that his record-breaking Travers Stakes win was no fluke running down the highest rated horse in the world, California Chrome.

California Chrome broke well and looked in control throughout as he set an even pace, 47.15 to the half mile and a mile in 1m 10.96 with Arrogate being pushed along in third. Figures showed he ran he best race of his life and Arrogate still ran him down.

Victor Espinoza upped the pace with three to run as they raced round the turn and was three lengths clear as Mike Smith set Arrogate to chase him down. Espinoza looked around left and right off the bend before driving California Chrome clear.

California Chrome responded and held a length and a half lead for a furlong but in the final furlong Arrogate just kept coming a got by him with 50 yards to go for a half-length triumph in 2m 00.11. It was a long way back to Keen Ice in third.

Smith said afterwards: “This horse has such stamina, he never stops comin’ he could go round again.”

Bob Baffert expressed surprise at the result; "California Chrome is a champion. I'm surprised I beat him, I didn't think I could beat him going in."

Art Sherman said of California Chrome: "You saw two champions run. No excuses - he ran his eyeballs out."

Victor Espinoza said: "I am so proud of him, he ran a great race. Maybe in hindsight I should have let him roll a bit earlier. We have had our ups and downs, and I know what it's like to be down and then come back. He was cruising, but we've probably met a good horse today." Although Espinoza could have pressed the buton earlier, it didn’t appear to make a difference - Arrogate was strongest in the finish.

Arrogate was timed in 2:00.11 on the fast main track.

As remarkable as Arrogate’s ascension has been trainer Bob Baffert’s skill at winning the Classic. This was the third straight year he won it, and he used the exact template this year as he did last year with American Pharoah, training Arrogate straight into the Classic without another race following the Travers.

Arrogate was time was 2m 00.11 on the fast main track. He got a Beyer Speed figure of 120 proving the 122 of his reacord breakong Taveres was no fluke.

“You can only do that with a great horse,” Baffert said. “I cannot believe what he’s accomplished. He’s just a big kid, learning how to run.”

Organisers will be eager to engineer a rematch in the $12 million Pegasus Cup due to be held at Gulfstream in January which maybe California Chrome’s last race. It also sets up in interesting dilemma for US Horse of the Year voters with California Chrome acknowledged as the front runner for his six wins before this Arrogate run.