Two undefeated ponies, Dash Attack and Newgrange , was one of 12 3-year-olds fighting over $750,000 Southwest Stakes (G3), Oaklawn ParkThe next Road to the Kentucky Derby is on Jan. 29. Both have won two starts and the first is 1 1/16 miles away.
Catalyst Stable, Magdalena Racing, Kevin Pollard, and Patty Slevin’s Dash Attack won the local Smarty Jones Stakes on January 1 at a mile depth. After a slow start, the 3-year-old Munnings colt rallied from Saturday and continued the two-way winning streak. He was one of seven horses that returned to the Southwest from the 13-horse Smarty Jones.
“In such a big field, no you don’t really expect (to win),” coach Kenny McPeek said of Smarty Jones. “He’s weathered some adversity and is very professional. It’s been interesting to watch and hopefully he’ll have a few more races in which we get to see more of him, or even be a part of that.” a better version of him.”
Videotapes: Smarty Jones S. (BT)
Dash Attack’s Smarty Jones victory follows a successful debut on December 5, a one-mile first race on a good, closed track at Oaklawn in which he ran from the middle lap to win 1/ 4 lengths.
“Normally we don’t force them out the first time around but he did it with raw talent,” McPeek said. “And that second race, he obviously figured it out and I think now this is a big step. The next couple that starts is going to be really exciting. It’s very exciting.”
Dash Attack adjusted for Southwest with a five-fold move on 1:01 2/5 on January 24 in Oaklawn, which McPeek called a “maintenance” breeze.
The foal was bred in Kentucky by Catalyst Stable and McPeeks’ Magdalena Racing from Spin hard mareCerce Cay , a McPeek-trained winner.
“It’s been amazing. The fact that we raised him is an added bonus but he’s just a really nice pony when it comes to getting things right,” McPeek said.
Dash Attack will have David Cohen, on board for both of the foal’s previous warmups, returning to the irons when he takes a break from lesson 2.
Violence , sent to Hot Springs, Ark., with the first score in Sham Staking January 1 (G3) at Santa Anita . Park for Hall’s coach Bob Baffert. Able to set up an easy pace, he drew away to win a 2 3/4 length in a Sham mile, a race followed by a 1/2 length win in a six first race long distance on November 28 at Del Mar.
Videotapes: Sham S. (G3)
In preparation for the Southwest, Newgrange ran a half-mile run on: 47 May January 23 at Santa Anita, the second fastest of the 114 at distance in the morning.
The foal is campaigned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan, Golconda Stable and Siena Farm. He was bred in Kentucky by Jack Mandato and Black Rock Thoroughbreds from Empire Maker mare Bella Chianti and was a $125,000 Annual Keeneland Sale by SF/Starlight/Madaket, with Donato Lanni as agent, when provided by Brookdale Sales.
John Velazquez will remain at Newgrange for Saturday’s third race in a row from 10th place, with opposing speed horses drawn to his insides and outsides.
WSS Racing’s Haircut line will also be looking for part of the Southwest after finishing second in Smarty Jones. Trained by John Ortiz, Race day The pony ran among the herd and passed some traffic trouble to reach this place. It was a failure for half the length after he picked up pace during the Lively Shively Stake November 27 at Churchill Downs, that race was only at 6 1/2.
“I think the race at Smarty Jones was a very good education for him, where this time he wasn’t too close to finishing first,” Ortiz said. “He had a lot of dirt on his face – not even mud, it was mud and sloppy stuff. I think he had a pretty good upbringing. he passed Dash Attack then sixteen ( a mile), that would be the distance we’re running now.”
Barber Road broke his maiden at second claim gone 1 1/16 miles in a teenager claimer at Keeneland October 14. He then shortened to 6 1/2 feathers to win a beginner’s allowance of 6 1/4 lengths on November 10 at Churchill Downs before trying it out. do joint stock company.
In his final piece on January 20 in Oaklawn, Barber Road cut five feathers in 1:1.
“He’ll enter this race in perfect condition — nonstop, perfect morning training,” Ortiz said. “He’s improved since his last start and he feels like he’s up for the challenge.”
Coach Steve Asmussen got two into the Southwest — Winchell Thoroughbreds Costa Terra and L and N Racing and Winchell’s Classic moment —Make their second year premiere. Costa Terra, by Gunman , hasn’t run since rallying from 12th to fifth in the October 9 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) competition in Keeneland. Classic moment, by Classic Empire , is the fourth and final launch of the December 17 Remington Springboard Mile Stakes. The latter adds a flash.
Springboard Mile runner-up Osbourne , who missed half the time, is also back in the Southwest. The Tapiture gelding is trained and co-owned by Ron Moquett.
Ignitis , Kavod , Vivar , Ben Diesel , and Don’tcrossthedevil are the others returning from Smarty Jones. The ultimate winner in Oaklawn’s maiden Call me Jamal complete this field.
Southwest will award qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) on a 10-4-2-1 scale, equal to the amount awarded by Smarty Jones. If Newgrange finishes in the top four, he will not be eligible to earn any points due to regulation from Churchill Downs Inc. does not award points to any horse trained by an individual suspended from competition at the 2022 Kentucky Derby.
Baffert was suspended by the CDI last June through the Churchill Downs spring 2023 meeting after Medina Spirit tested positive for the corticosteroid betamethasone after finishing first in the Kentucky Derby. Betamethasone is a banned race day drug in Kentucky. The Kentucky Equestrian Commission has yet to issue a ruling in the case.
Item: Southwest S. (G3)
Oaklawn Park, Saturday, January 29, 2022, Race 9
- Level III
- 1 1/16m
- Dust
- $750,000
- 3 yo
- 4:22 pm (local)
