HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Archarcharch showed talent to win his maiden in a stakes race back in December, and his abilities were evident again on Monday when he overcame trouble and put in a sustained, four-wide bid to win the Grade 3, $250,000 Southwest by a length over favorite J P’s Gusto.
It was another 1 1/4 lengths back in third to Elite Alex in what was Oaklawn Park’s first major prep for the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby on April 16.
Archarcharch pulled a 14-1 upset Monday over favored J P’s Gusto in the 46th running of the Grade 3, $250,000 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park.
Archarcharch, with Jon Court riding for his father-in-law, trainer Jinks Fires, looped the field before holding off an inside run by J P’s Gusto to prevail by about a length. Elite Alex ran on late to be third in a field of 11 3-year-olds, most of them Triple Crown nominees.
Indian Winter, who was scratched from the San Vicente a little more than an hour before the race on Sunday because Jerry Hollendorfer, his trainer and co-owner, thought the speed-favoring nature of the Santa Anita main trackwould compromise Indian Winter’s chances, is headed out of town. Indian Winter will run Saturday in the $50,000 Turf Paradise Derby in Phoenix.
KENTUCKY DERBY NEWS: Track all the 3-year-olds on the Triple Crown trail
Uncle Mo has continued training forwardly for his 3-year-old debut, which could come in the $100,000 Timely Writer, a one-turn mile race on March 12 at Gulfstream Park. The undefeated 2-year-old champion had his first five-furlong breeze this winter early Sunday morning at Palm Meadows, completing the distance in 1:01.40 before galloping out six furlongs in 1:14 under jockey John Velazquez.
“He went well and galloped out strong,” trainer Todd Pletcher said.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Mucho Macho Man and trainer Kathy Ritvo returned here Monday from Fair Grounds, where they captured the Grade 2 Risen Star on Saturday. The victory elevated Mucho Macho Man back into the Kentucky Derby picture, following his somewhat disappointing fourth-place finish behind Dialed In in the Holy Bull.
What should one look for in an “Under the Radar” 3-year-old?
The blossoming colt must be underrated.
He must have shown potential at some point during his young career, preferably in a two-turn route race.
And, he must have a pedigree that is geared toward the demanding 1 1/4 miles of the Kentucky Derby.
Using those criteria, Shackleford looks like a no-brainer for our growing list of Radar Runners.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Clubhouse Ride, among the top 3-year-olds in California, is off the Kentucky Derby trail, trainer Craig Lewis announced Monday morning at Santa Anita.
Lewis said Clubhouse Ride, a son of Candy Ride, has a hairline fracture of his right ankle that will require 45 days off.
"It's miniscule and he will recover," Lewis said. "That's the good news. The disappointment is I believe he is a true mile-and-a-quarter horse."
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Chad Brown said he has sent Tiz Blessed, who closed at odds of 79-1 on Sunday in the first Kentucky Derby Future wager, to Kentucky to be examined by Dr. Larry Bramlage in an attempt to discover what has been keeping the stakes-winning 3-year-old from a regular training schedule this winter.
Tiz Blessed won two of his three starts at 2, including Woodbine’s Display by 5 1/2 widening lengths. A son of Tiznow owned by Gary and Mary West, Tiz Blessed has worked six times at the Palm Meadows training center this winter but only once since Jan. 24.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – One horse who will be conspicuous by his absence when entries are drawn here Wednesday for Saturday’s Grade 2 Fountain of Youth is Dialed In. Trainer Nick Zito said he and owner Bob LaPenta both agreed that passing the race is in the best interest of their colt in light of his huge performance winning the Grade 3 Holy Bull in only his second career start here last month.
