Horse Betting World

“Arch” Bounces Back to Win Southwest at Oaklawn Park

By Mike Dempsey

Archarcharch looked as if he might be a Kentucky Derby contender after winning the Sugar Bowl Stakes at Fair Grounds in his second career start, but after dueling for the lead and fading to fourth in the Smarty Jones on Jan. 17 as the even money betting choice, the colt left the Derby radar for most.

Fast forward to Monday and the colt looks back on track, taking the $250,000 Southwest (G3) at Oaklawn Park despite having a less than stellar trip, returning his backers $31.00 for a $2 win wager.

The colt was caught out four wide heading into the first turn after breaking a beat slow, came five wide around the far turn and drifted in a bit in the late stages, and held off the betting favorite J P’s Gusto by a length.

“It set up perfectly for us,” said winning jockey Jon Court, who has ridden the colt in all four of his career starts. “In the Smarty Jones I was almost forced to the front on a tiring track and I knew his best chance today was going to be if he was able to sit right off the lead. He did it very willingly today.”

The Southwest is the first of three key Kentucky Derby preps at Oaklawn Park.

Coming up next is the $300,000 Rebel Stakes (G2) on March 19, followed by the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) on April 16.

J P’s Gusto was making his first start since running second in the CashCall Futurity (G1) on Dec. 18, with bettors sending the colt off as the 7/5 favorite in the field of eleven.

Jockey Ramon Dominguez had the son of Successful Appeal in good position stalking the early pace in the early going, but had to wait briefly in traffic on the far turn and was no match for the winner inside the final furlong, settling for the runner up spot.

“At the quarter pole, when I wanted to move, there were horses around me and I couldn’t get out,” Dominguez said. “When the winner started moving up super early I could have gotten out, but I thought I didn’t want to have to make my move so soon. I figured I’d take my chances. I knew about the short stretch, but we just didn’t get the chance to get out in time. He felt like the mile is right up his alley.”

The $2 exacta returned $146.60, with the $1 trifecta with second choice Elite Alex paying $230.20.

In other key Derby preps over the holiday weekend, The Bob Baffert trained The Factor ($3.80) got the job done in the $150,000 San Vicente (G2) at Santa Anita, and Mucho Macho Man ($9.20) won the $300,000 Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds.

The Derby prep horse wagering action shifts to Gulfstream Park this Saturday, with the $400,000 Fountain of Youth (G2) and the $150,000 Hutcheson (G3) on tap.

If you are heading out to the track or doing your horse betting from home, look for full analysis of the betting action by Michael Dempsey and Joey Adams coming this week to horsebettingworld.com

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