He won the Breeders' Cup Classic and was named the American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse and World's Best Racehorse of 2016.

Despite having only four stakes race wins, the large purses made him the all-time leading money earner in North America.

As a yearling, the colt was consigned to the Keeneland September sale and was bought for $560,000 by Juddmonte Farms,[7] the racing operation of Khalid ibn Abdullah.

On June 5, he was moved up in distance and recorded his first victory in a maiden race over 1+1⁄16 miles (1.7 km) at Santa Anita Park, leading from the start and winning by two and a half lengths from Giant Expectations.

Nineteen days later, at the same track, Arrogate contested an allowance race against older horses and won again, beating Fusaichi Samurai by five and a quarter lengths after leading from the start.

On August 4, the colt appeared in an allowance race at Del Mar and started odd-on favorite against two older opponents.

Having drawn post position 1 in a large field, Arrogate was ridden hard from the starting gate and set fast opening fractions.

As they turned into the stretch, he broke clear of his rivals, winning by thirteen and a half lengths over his stablemate American Freedom, with Creator finishing seventh and Exaggerator eleventh.

[13][14] His final time of 1:59.36 for the 1+1⁄4 miles (2.0 km) distance eclipsed General Assembly's Travers and track record of 2:00 that had stood for 37 years.

"[15] The horse earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 122 for his effort and became a contender for the year end Eclipse award.

The horses engaged in the homestretch and in the final yards, Arrogate surged ahead to defeat California Chrome by half a length.

"[18] Post-race analysis gave California Chrome a Beyer Speed Figure of 119, the highest of his career, but Arrogate topped it with a 120.

[19] The race earned Arrogate the top position in the World's Best Racehorse Rankings published by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities on November 10 with a rating of 134, one point ahead of California Chrome.

[21] Arrogate was originally scheduled to begin his four-year-old campaign in the San Pasqual Stakes but heavy rains at Santa Anita caused Baffert to scratch from the race.

Baffert feared that the colt had lost all chance but Mike Smith reacted calmly, saying later that he rode him like Zenyatta, who was famous for her closing kick.

"[28] After returning to the United States, Arrogate was given some time off, then was entered in the San Diego Handicap at Del Mar on July 22, where he carried the top weight of 126 pounds.

The horse put in several good workouts at his training base in Santa Anita,[34] but handicappers were still concerned about his ability to handle the Del Mar track at which the Classic would be held.

[35] Arrogate drew post position one for the race, and Smith announced his intention to be aggressive out of the starting gate in order to avoid being trapped on the rail.

Arrogate was made the 2–1 second choice on the morning line behind Gun Runner, who had won three straight Grade I races since returning from Dubai.

[4][49][50] A statement from the farm said Arrogate "was transported to the Hagyard Clinic under the care of Dr. Bob Hunt and Dr. Nathan Slovis with Dr. Steve Reed representing the insurance company.