NEWS
Archarcharch holds of Nehro in Arkansas Derby, The Factor no factor
Posted: Saturday, April 16, 2011 7:57 PM
ARCHARCHARCH
Oaklawn Park / Coady Photography
For video of the Arkansas Derby, click here.
by Mike Curry
Heavily favored The Factor was not a factor in the stretch of his final prep for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1), instead it was Archarcharch who aced his final horse racing classic test.
Archarcharch surged past Dance City and Sway Away in the stretch of the $1-million Arkansas Derby (G1) and held off a late bid from Nehro in a thrilling finish Saturday at Oaklawn Park.
The Factor could not keep pace with Sway Away and Dance City entering the stretch after he was forced to rate off pace from third early under Martin Garcia behind sizzling fractions set by J P’s Gusto. The Factor led at every point of call in each of his three previous starts, but he did not respond late as the 4-to-5 favorite after he was taken out of his game early in the Arkansas Derby.
Sway Away and Dance City scooted clear in early stretch, but Southwest Stakes (G3) winner Archarcharch closed with ground-devouring strides to take charge inside the eighth pole. Nehro unleashed a powerful late bid but came up just short of the victor, who completed 1 1/8 miles at 25.20-to-1 odds under Jon Court in 1:49.34 on a track rated as fast.
“Very, very proud,” winning trainer William “Jinks” Fires said of the Arch colt, who was reserved in tenth then ninth through a half-mile in :46.53. “He had the perfect trip. I was happy to see someone go out there with the speed. That was what we were hoping for.”
Nehro was clearly second best, and Dance City edged clear of Sway Away for third. The Factor faded to seventh under Martin Garcia, continuing a four-week stretch that has seen every favorite defeated in the major two-turn Kentucky Derby preps from coast to coast. Baffert said after the Arkansas Derby that The Factor displaced his soft palate, which would have restricted his breathing.
Archarcharch rebounded from a third-place finish in the Rebel Stakes (G2), which was won by The Factor on March 19 at Oaklawn. He boosted his earnings to $832,744 for owners Robert and Loval Yagos and improved to three wins from six starts.
“I actually had a pretty good trip; he didn’t get banged up this time and I was able to execute the plan,” Court said.
Bred in Kentucky by Grapestock, Archarcharch is out of multiple graded stakes-placed winner Woodman’s Dancer, by Woodman.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor
READER COMMENTS
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Posted by: ray, hartford, CT on April 18, 2011 at 04:38 PM
race caller is amatureish at best,honestly i would have done a better job,but thats the problem in this country nobody wants to pay well,so you end up with incompetence,as long as management gets its bonuses,who cares right.
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Posted by: Handicapper, Inglewood, CA on April 18, 2011 at 02:08 PM
Nehro was closing like a rocket just like he did in the Louisiana Derby, it appear's the Ky Derby distance will be right up his alley, Nehro is coming into the Ky Derby the right way.......... JMO <\_~
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Posted by: Giddyup, Lexington, KY on April 18, 2011 at 01:04 PM
Agreed Stacey - Oaklawn needs to find a track announcer who can at least learn the name of the horses racing.
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Posted by: Stacey, Boston, MA on April 17, 2011 at 10:35 AM
I think that was the worst race caller I've EVER heard.
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Posted by: Kevin B., Staten Island, NY on April 17, 2011 at 10:05 AM
Nehro did look impressive and he should have a similiar pace to run at in the Derby if he goes. A better price than Dialed In too. BTW, worst call of a big race in a long time. Oaklawn goota get a top guy to call their top race.
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