Tia Flor romps at Keeneland to give sire Archarcharch first winner

Archarcharch earned his biggest win in the 2011 Arkansas Derby (Oaklawn Park/Coady Photography)

Grade 1 hero Archarcharch was represented by his first winner as a sire on
Thursday when his juvenile daughter Tia Flor romped in the

9TH race over Keeneland’s fast main track.

Campaigned by Eladio Acevedo, the dark bay miss took command out of the gate
under Rolando Aragon and never looked back en route to a 9 1/4-length score. Tia
Flor was sent off at 11-1 and paid $24.80 for finishing 4 1/2 furlongs in :52
3/5 against six colts and geldings and one fellow filly. Trained by Marco
Castaneda, the Kentucky-bred lass was fifth in her career debut at Keeneland
just last week on April 15 under the same conditions, and was the only starter
in the field with prior experience.

Archarcharch took two tries to break his maiden as well, but he got the job
done in the Sugar Bowl S. at Fair Grounds in his 2010 juvenile finale. The
near-black colt was fourth in his sophomore bow, the Smarty Jones S. at Oaklawn
Park, and stayed at that Hot Springs, Arkansas, venue to complete his Kentucky
Derby (G1) preparations.

Trainer Jinks Fires proceeded to saddle Archarcharch to a win in the
Southwest S. (G3), a third in the Rebel S. (G2) and, finally, a gutsy
quarter-length score in the Arkansas Derby (G1) over Nehro (Mineshaft). That one
would be second behind Animal Kingdom (Leroidesanimaux) in the Kentucky Derby
next out but Archarcharch wasn’t so lucky.