Archarcharch pulls away to win Oaklawn's SW Stakes

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. (AP) - Archarcharch found his kick on the home stretch this time around.

The colt won the $250,000 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Monday, making a successful return run on the same track he faded at last month.

Archarcharch finished fourth in the Smarty Jones Stakes on Jan. 17 at Oaklawn. That followed a win in the Sugar Bowl Stakes in New Orleans in December.

During the Smarty Jones, Archarcharch started quickly and led for much of the race before faltering late. The Oaklawn track was heavy and slow that day thanks to the weather that has plagued Arkansas this winter.

``He was just a little rank that day,'' owner Bob Yagos said. ``He's a horse that needs to run off the pace a little bit. He just went to the lead, and as tired as the track was that day, nothing in the lead was winning that day.

``I just think he wore himself out.''

On Monday, the track was fast despite a brief afternoon shower. Archarcharch was slow out of the gate and remained with the lead pack in the fifth position for much of the early part of the race. The 14-to-1 shot finally began making a move toward the front on the back stretch and pulled ahead for good on the outside while coming around the final turn.

He then held off a late charge by race favorite J P's Gusto for the win, earning $150,000 in the Kentucky Derby prep.

Ridden by Jon Court, Archarcharch paid $31, $8.80 and $4.80. J P's Gusto paid $3.60 and $2.80, while third-place finisher Elite Alex paid $3 to show

``I felt good about it when I saw Jon move up to the outside there,'' trainer Jinks Fires said. ``I was a little troubled leaving the gate because he was sitting on the back of the gate and then he didn't get away like we thought he would.

``He was in a little trouble in that first turn, and I was afraid that was going to hurt him down the backside. But he recovers pretty good. He's a pretty agile horse. He does a lot of things that other horses give up on.''

J P's Gusto went off as the favorite after a successful stint in California. In his only previous race on dirt, he finished sixth in the Grey Goose Breeders' Cup in November. He hadn't run since finishing second in California in December, arriving at Oaklawn to train on Feb. 9.

He stayed near the front for much of the one-mile race on Monday, but his late kick on the inside was too late to reel in Archarcharch.

Trainer Joe Petalino said he believes the colt will still run in the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn on March 19.

``He just had a rough trip,'' trainer Joe Petalino said. ``I know he's never had that much dirt in his face the way he got shuffled around in there.

``I knew the distance wasn't going to be a problem. He was closing in his last race. We just need to get a clean trip the next time around.''

Oaklawn's series of Kentucky Derby prep races continues with the $300,000 Rebel Stakes and the $1 million Arkansas Derby on April 16.