Would Archarcharch Make A Triple Crown Winner Had There Been No Mishap?

By Author: Lee Lane-Edgar
Total Articles: 365
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Well I suppose that would have been a dream come true for most of Archarcharch fans and connections as he had set high hopes for himself with his double win at the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby and Grade 3 Southwest Stakes giving him a 12.50 to 1 odds at the Kentucky Derby.

Born in a pedigree rich with distance champions Archarcharch inherits a fortune of genetic features that would have been paramount to clean sweep the Kentucky Derby. Archarcharch is a breed, one derived from the 1964 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner to say the least, Northern Dancer, the 1963 undefeated in his four career starts, Raise A Native, Mr. Prospector with his dominant Triple Crown winning progeny and none other than the controversial Alydar with his persistent record of second finishes in all three legs of the Triple Crown in an attempt to outrun the winner Affirmed.

Archarcharch was gifted equally from the bloodline of broodmares too. Deriving his racing skills from a line of broodmares like 1968 born Courtly Dee whose impressive progeny of stakes winners from an array of stallions made a mark along a series of graded stakes tournaments, ...
... Alydar’s daughter Althea and again a descendent of Northern Dancer, Woodman’s Dancer; Archarcharch was the finest breed from the most lavishly designed pedigree.

Trained and Jockeyed by the duo William “Jinks” Fires and Jon Court, Archarcharch could be their first ticket to the Derby. The duo had quite an aura in racing earned over the years though Derby hadn’t added up to the list until Archarcharch stepped in. Court, trainer “Jinks” son in law rode Archarcharch in all of his 6 starts and affirmed the stallion was just right for the 1 ¼ mile run.

He had the sudden accelerating skills that even if he started from the far end helped him pace up to the front line runners bringing him in a convenient position for the finishing line. Son of sire Arch, Blame was the magnificent Breeder’s Cup Classic winner last winter raising anticipations for a similar monumental performance from another offspring of the Arch’s. Following his track record of win-lose-win-lose, Derby suited his running style just perfectly, a slow grinding pace setting him off into a consistent acceleration through the pack pushing him into a stalking position just right for the Derby.

Archarcharch’s start on that grand Saturday of the Derby wasn’t grand at all. While he bumped right out of the gate and stumbled, he bumped again towards the crown of the track too. He was rushed to the Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital right away. After a condylar fracture surgery in his left leg, a grave damage to the cartilage needed to be tended. Fires soon declared a No-comeback for the Arch colt.

Archarcharch, who finished 15th in his last leap of faith retired with total career earnings of $832,744 and 7 career starts in all with 3 wins. The Arkansas Derby star who is currently convalescing from his injuries is now supposed to enter stud, mostly in 2012. While a standing fee hasn’t been closed on in, Wayne Hughes’ Spendthrift Farm would take over the care taking of the stallion soon.

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