Arkansas Derby winner Archarcharch, earlier considered a solid contender for Saturday's 2011 Kentucky Derby, coming off at 10-to-1 odds, did not have much luck at Wednesday's post-draw getting stuck on the inside coming out of Gate-1. The three year old will have the shortest run around the track but his chances of getting locked-in against the rail are high. Bodog.com horse-book show's the colt's post draw odds adjusted, still strong at 12-to-1.
Archarcharch is an Arkansas horse owned by Arkansas natives Bob and Val Yagos and trained by another Arkie, Jinks Fires. Jockey Jon Court, who happens to be Fires son-in-law will ride the colt in Saturday's race. Archarcharch will be the first Kentucky Derby entry for the Yagos family and Fires.
Coming off at 12-to-1 odds, Archarcharch is my sentimental Kentucky Derby Pick and if he can get off the rail early, has the kick to win.
Coming off at 25-to-1 odds, Court jockeyed Archarcharch to his first Grade-1 victory in the $1 million Arkansas Derby on April 14, by holding off another Kentucky Derby favorite Nehro and winning by a head. The owners cashed a winner's check of $600,000, not a bad return on a horse they paid $60,000 for last year. Backers at the betting window came away happy cashing $52.40 on a two-dollar bet. Court was the winning jockey at Arkansas for the second straight year, riding Line of David to the winners circle last year.
The Arkansas Derby victory was the third for Archarcharch in six career starts and by far the biggest one. The colt won his maiden run at Fair Grounds in New Orleans in the Sugar Bowl Stakes.
In two short days, the Kentucky Derby will post so don't hesitate to get in your Kentucky Derby Picks before it's too late.
