Coach Kenny McPeek, about to have the best year of his career on the back of earnings in 2021, could be ready for an even better 2022 the way January 1 went.
New Year’s Day kicked off with his two Kentucky Derbys presented by the hopeful Woodford Reserve (G1), Happy smile and Tiz the Bomb , capture the three-dimensional breeze easily at Gulfstream Park. Next, the coach attended the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla., with his family and watched his beloved Kentucky Wildcats beat the Iowa Hawkeyes in soccer. And then he went back to his business, watching his pony from a distance Dash Attack won $250,000 Smarty Jones Staking at Oaklawn Park, continues to strengthen his hand in leading Derby prospects.
KING: Derby Threats Smile Happy, Tiz the Bomb Resume Breezing
As if that wasn’t enough, McPeek has another Derby threat, Rattle N Roll , near return breeze in the coming weeks.
While Dash Attack is not yet a classified winner like that trio, he proved his quality in Smarty Jones, a Kentucky Derby qualifying match that provided a 10-point scale. 4-2-1 for the first four to finish. Of the four major 3-year-olds holdings across the nation on Saturday, Smarty Jones is the top performer, going to be crowned with 13 fresh sophomores returning from a single miss.
It’s just one horse — The Traction Railroad Assault — that played the lead role, however, on a rainy day in Oaklawn in steep conditions, focusing from day eight and clearly pulling two sections of the track later. Haircut line .
Ignitis nipped Kavod in a photo for the show.
“He stumbled a little bit today but was able to make a pretty good ride,” said winning driver David Cohen. “I had to move a little earlier than I wanted to. I wanted to be a little more patient with the horse, but because of the short distance, it was time to go and I saw an opportunity to get out of the vehicle) . I pointed him in that direction and got the so-called slingshot attempt. He really flipped his game and turned on the power.”
Dash Attack (number 1) breaks slowly as the field of 13 horses arranges the initial positions
Dash Attack ($17.40), a son of Munnings owned by Richard Greenberg’s Catalyst Stable, Sherri McPeek’s Magdalena Racing, Kevin Pollard and Patty Slevin, raced a mile two turns in 1:39.44. His rally was fueled by an early demanding pace set by Ben Diesel and Ruggs , who placed the fractions of: 23.03, :46.38 and 1:12.34. That duo weakened to place seventh and eighth, respectively.
“I’m really pleased with the work David and my team did there. Just an impressive run by that pony,” McPeek said. “Listen, he’s still just learning, this horse. I knew he was going to go astray. I saw him going out a little awkwardly. I just didn’t want David to rush things and it did. looked at me like he started, but then when the race was on, he finished for a short while, but the good horses overcame everything and he finished it, for sure.
Dash Attack connections enjoy Smarty Jones title presentation
Catalyst Stable and Magdalena Racing have bred winners, who have smashes, Spin hard mare Cerce Cay , racing in part for Catalyst Stable and Magdalena Racing. McPeek also trained Cerce Cay.
Dash Attack is the first of six black ponies from Cerce Cay, a half-brother with stake winners Navarone’s song and Celluloid Hero . She made three winners and has young, boneless ponies in a pony that just turned 2 years old by Sublime Mission and a yearning longing by Munnings .
Dash Attack is 2 for 2 with earnings of $205,440. He scored his debut on December 5 in a one-mile first race at Oaklawn.
Dash Attack leads to post in Smarty Jones Staking
Videotapes: Smarty Jones S. (BT)
