Trainer Bob Baffert described Arrogate as “the greatest we’ve seen since Secretariat” following last night’s dramatic win in the Dubai World Cup. A strong statement? Perhaps. But only if you have yet to witness the “grey machine’s” amazing performance on a memorable night at Meydan.

Arrogate was sliced up and left for last at the jump but they don’t call jockey Mike Smith ‘Big Money Mike’ for nothing and it was his patience and experience that helped guide the amazing son of Unbridled’s Song to a memorable win. Fellow US raiders Gun Runner and  Neolithic finished second and third with Mike de Kock’s Mubtaahij bravely holding on for fourth.

Arrogate has only been racing for a year but is now the highest stakes earner in the history of the sport. Last night he added the $10million Gr1 Dubai World Cup to his resume following wins in wins in the Travers Stakes (G1), Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) and the $12million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) in his last three outings.

When it was over, even his trainer couldn’t believe what Arrogate had done. “I was thinking, ‘Maybe I shouldn’t have brought him. Maybe he’s getting tired.’ … I thought, ‘If he can’t win, Mike [Smith] will take care of him and not abuse him.'”

But as Arrogate worked his way into contention, the Hall of Fame trainer’s mood shifted. “I thought then, ‘If he wins this race, he’s the most incredible horse I’ve ever seen,'” he said.

Baffert said he was glad he brought Arrogate to the desert, even beyond the prestige and purse money.

“Everybody who was here tonight is going to say, ‘I’m glad I was here to see that,'” he said. “If anybody wasn’t super impressed with that, they just don’t like horse racing. I still can’t believe he won the race.”