Bob Baffert is still looking towards the Breeders' Cup with Arrogate despite the colt having to settle for second behind stablemate Collected in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Saturday night.
The four-year-old carried all before him last year, counting the Breeders' Cup Classic among three Grade One wins before going on to take the Dubai World Cup at Meydan in some style back in March.
However, he suffered a shock defeat in the San Diego Handicap at Del Mar last month and was again beaten at that track when fellow Baffert inmate Collected proved half a length too good over 10 furlongs.
Arrogate again left himself plenty to do but stayed on strongly at the finish, a factor which jockey Mike Smith viewed as a positive.
He said: "If he just improves a little bit, we'll be all right. He was a lot better today than last time - just not good enough."
Baffert was similarly upbeat and felt Arrogate's effort was much more promising.
He told www.bloodhorse.com: "Arrogate - at least he tried today. He's getting there, but I think that when I ran him in the San Diego it messed up his psyche a little bit.
"I don't think I have a problem bringing him back in the Breeders' Cup Classic. But he's got to be fresh, just like Collected came in here fresh. And Collected is a very good horse."
Gun Runner was cut to 2/1 favourite from 7/2 for the Breeders' Cup Classic by Sky Bet who pushed Arrogate out to 3/1 from 13/8.
