January, 2022 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Dash Attack ‘Sling Shots’ To Victory In Oaklawn’s Smarty Jones

Impressive Dec. 5 maiden winner Dash Attack made the successful step up to stakes competition with a powerful victory in Saturday's $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn in Hot Springs, Ark. In the process, the colt, who races for Catalyst Stable, Magdalena Racing, Kevin Pollard and Patty Slevin, earned 10 important points toward Kentucky Derby eligibility.

Dash Attack broke a step behind the field from his rail post, but that allowed him to settle into seventh place. Ruggs led the field through an opening quarter mile in :23.03 before relenting the lead to Ben Diesel before a half mile in :46.38. Jockey David Cohen moved the winner out of traffic and they came four-wide into the lane after six furlongs in 1:12.34 before drawing off to win by two lengths over Barber Road, who also closed fast to earn four points for second. Final time for the one-mile race was 1:39.44 over a sloppy track.

“He broke a little flat-footed today, but was able to work out a pretty good trip,” Cohen said. “I had to move a little earlier than I would have liked. I like to be a little more patient with the horse, but given the short stretch, it was the time to go and I saw one opportunity to get out (of traffic). I pointed him in that direction and got that so-called sling shot effort. He really turned up his game and turned on the power.”

Ignitus finished third by a head in front of Advent Stakes-winner Kavod. Ignitus earned two points toward Kentucky Derby eligibility, while Kavod earned one.

Dash Attack, a Munnings colt trained by Kenny McPeek, is now a perfect two for two and has earned $205,440. He returned $17.40, $8.60 and $5.60 at odds of 7-1.

“I'm just really pleased with the job David (Cohen) and my team did over there,” McPeek said, when reached by telephone in Florida. “Just an impressive run by that colt. Look, he's still just figuring it out, this horse. I knew he would come from off the pace. I saw that he got off a little awkward. I just didn't want David to rush things and it looked to me like he started to, but then as the race unfolded, he kind of ended up in a pocket for a while. But good horses overcome things and he's done that, for sure.”

Live racing resumes Sunday with a 12:30 p.m. Central first post. The next race in Oaklawn's 3-year-old series is the $750,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) on Saturday, Jan. 29.

Updated Kentucky Derby Leaderboard

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Newgrange, Rockefeller Give Baffert 1-2 Finish In Sham, But Neither Horse Earns Kentucky Derby Points

Ho hum.

Another year, another bevy of top-shelf 3-year-old colts for trainer Bob Baffert. That was the storyline at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., on Saturday, as Baffert runners Newgrange and Rockefeller ran one-two throughout in the Grade 3, $100,000 Sham Stakes for 3-year-olds at one mile, giving him three consecutive wins in the Sham and eight overall. Ridden to victory by John Velazquez, who collected his third stakes win on the fourth day of the meet, Newgrange, who slowed things down nicely, prevailed by 2 ¾ lengths and got the distance in 1:38.32 after fractions of :24.46, :48.94, 1:12.84 and 1:25.27.

With post time favorite Rockefeller drawn to his immediate outside, the Baffert pair were hustled from the gate but quickly settled into nice rhythm, with Newgrange maintaining a one-length advantage leaving the three-furlong pole and he was in complete command turning for home.

The third choice at 5-2, Newgrange, who was a first-out maiden winner going six furlongs under Velazquez Nov. 28 at Del Mar, paid $7.40.

No match for his stablemate late, Rockefeller held off a fast finishing Oviatt Class by a nose for second and paid $2.60 and $2.20 as the 3-2 favorite with Flavien Prat.

“There was one speed, the other Bob Baffert horse (Rockefeller) and I'm pretty sure he didn't want them in a head and head,” Velazquez said. “He told me to put my horse on the lead. Once my horse got to the lead he waited. I took a little hold of him and he kind of started waiting for the horses, so I started waiting for the horses to come to him, by the time we got to the backside I kind of let him do his own thing. I let him get in a comfortable rhythm, after that it was pretty easy though.

“He's so green,” the rider added, “he feels like he got on by himself, he was waiting for horses so, I had to give him a little reminder to keep his mind on running and his gallop out was pretty good so it still seems like he's learning.”

In an encouraging performance, Oviatt Class finished well into slow splits and acts like a colt who could improve with added distance for trainer Keith Desormeaux. Ridden by his brother Kent, Oviatt Class was off at 4-1 and paid $2.40 to show.

Although any Baffert runners are not now eligible for Kentucky Derby qualifying points – after Baffert-trained Medina Spirit failed a drug test following his first-place finish in the 2021 Kentucky Derby – the conditions of the race state that the winner is to receive 10 points, with four for second, two for third third, and one point for the fourth-place finisher, MacKinnon. Churchill Downs Inc., which runs the Derby at its flagship track in Louisville, Ky., has excluded Baffert horses from participating at any of its tracks through the end of the 2023 spring meeting at Churchill Downs and further stated the horses are not eligible for qualifying points if Baffert is their trainer.

Updated Kentucky Derby Leaderboard

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Dash Attack Stays Undefeated in Smarty Jones

On the day Coolmore America sire Munnings got a new 'TDN Rising Star' in Dubai with Shahama, he also added a new stakes winner on the Derby trail with Dash Attack in Oaklawn's Smarty Jones S. Earning 10 points on the 'Road to the Kentucky Derby' in this one-mile event, Dash Attack broke from the rail, took a little hop out of the gate, and settled midpack behind fractions of :23.03 and :46.38. The chestnut edged closer in earnest on the turn, but was still saving ground in eighth as six panels were clocked in 1:12.34. Tipped out about six wide coming off the turn to find running room, he flew down the lane with his ears pricked to win with authority.

“I'm just really pleased with the job [rider] David [Cohen] and my team did over there,” said winning trainer Kenny McPeek from Florida. “Just an impressive run by that colt. Look, he's still just figuring it out, this horse. I knew he would come from off the pace. I saw that he got off a little awkward. I just didn't want David to rush things and it looked to me like he started to, but then as the race unfolded, he kind of ended up in a pocket for a while. But good horses overcome things and he's done that, for sure.”

Dash Attack had made one previous start, a Dec. 5 victory over track and trip that resulted in a 74 debut Beyer Speed Figure. McPeek's family is part of both the ownership group and the breeding partnership that resulted in the Smarty Jones winner. With his wide blaze, chestnut coat, and consecutive trips to the winner's circle, Dash Attack calls to mind another sophomore colt by Munnings, GI Champagne S. winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Jack Christopher, who was scratched the day prior to the GI TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile as the likely favorite due to a stress fracture.

Dam Cerce Cay is a half to MSW & MGSP Song of Navarone (Sultry Song). She has a freshly minted 2-year-old colt by Noble Mission (GB) and a yearling full-sister to the winner.

SMARTY JONES S., $250,000, Oaklawn, 1-1, 3yo, 1m, 1:39.44, sy.
1–DASH ATTACK, 119, c, 3, by Munnings
               1st Dam: Cerce Cay, by Hard Spun
               2nd Dam: Timely Legend, by Navarone
               3rd Dam: Turf Legend, by Woodman
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Catalyst Stable, Magdalena Racing,
Kevin J. Pollard & Patty Slevin; B-Catalyst Stable &
Magdalena Racing (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek; J-David
Cohen. $150,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $205,440.
2–Barber Road, 117, c, 3, Race Day–Encounter, by Southern
Image. ($15,000 Wlg '19 KEENOV). O-WSS Racing, LLC;
B-Susan Forrester & Judy Curry (KY); T-John Alexander Ortiz.
$50,000.
3–Ignitis, 117, c, 3, Nyquist–Zaharias, by Grand Slam.
($190,000 RNA Ylg '20 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Holy
Cow Stable, LLC; B-Nesco II Limited (KY); T-D. Wayne Lukas.
$25,000.
Margins: 2, 1, NO. Odds: 7.70, 8.50, 31.30.
Also Ran: Kavod, Vivar, Cairama, Ben Diesel, Ruggs, All in Sync, Home Brew, Bureau, Don'tcrossthedevil, Cool Papa G. Scratched: Immoral.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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‘New’ Year, Same Story in Sham

Already with a record seven GIII Sham S. trophies, including the two prior runnings and three of the last four, trainer Bob Baffert and the ever-present ownership group nicknamed The Avengers celebrated another big score Saturday at Santa Anita with front-running Newgrange (Violence). The handsome dark bay earned an 80 Beyer Speed Figure for a 1 1/2-length debut tally at Del Mar Nov. 28 over pricey and highly regarded Got Thunder (Arrogate), who was second to newly minted Avengers-owned 'TDN Rising Star' Wharton (Candy Ride {Arg}) Friday afternoon.

Away as the third choice at 5-2 behind GIII Nashua S.-winning stablemate Rockefeller (Medaglia d'Oro) and surprisingly well-backed GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf third Mackinnon (American Pharoah), Newgrange broke in concert with Rockefeller before taking a narrow edge into the first turn under Hall of Famer John Velazquez. He cruised along at a comfortable tempo through splits of :24.46 and :48.94, and was given his cue to quicken near the 3/8 pole. Rockefeller couldn't keep pace, and Mackinnon tried to get going over the unfamiliar surface, but nobody was getting to Newgrange as he floated under the line an 2 3/4-length winner. Rockefeller narrowly held second from late-running GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile fifth Oviatt Class (Bernardini).

“He's so green, he feels like he got on by himself, he was waiting for horses so, I had to give him a little reminder to keep his mind on running and his gallop out was pretty good so it still seems like he's learning.”

A version of this same ownership group spearheaded by SF Racing, Starlight Racing and Madaket Stables took the 2020 running of the Sham with eventual GI Kentucky Derby winner and Horse of the Year Authentic (Into Mischief).

“He looked good,” Baffert said of Newgrange. “He had been training really well and working together with Rockefeller. The quality is there. I'm happy we have a great team and we are moving forward with him. I thought Rockefeller would be a little closer. We'll have to figure things out on where the two go from here.”

Saturday, Santa Anita
SHAM S.-GIII, $100,000, Santa Anita, 1-1, 3yo, 1m, 1:38.32, ft.
1–NEWGRANGE, 120, c, 3, by Violence
1st Dam: Bella Chianti, by Empire Maker
2nd Dam: Bella Chiarra, by Phone Trick
3rd Dam: Bannockburn, by Count Brook
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($125,000
Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Golconda Stable, Madaket Stables LLC, SF
Racing LLC, Siena Farm LLC, Starlight Racing, Stonestreet
Stables LLC, Waves Edge Capital LLC, Catherine Donovan,
Robert E Masterson & Jay A Schoenfarber; B-Jack Mandato &
Black Rock Thoroughbreds (KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-John R
Velazquez. $60,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $102,000. Click
for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating:
A+.
2–Rockefeller, 124, c, 3, Medaglia d'Oro–Dance to Bristol, by
Speightstown. ($750,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Golconda Stable,
Madaket Stables LLC, SF Racing LLC, Siena Farm LLC, Starlight
Racing, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Waves Edge Capital LLC,
Catherine Donovan, Robert E Masterson & Jay A Schoenfarber;
B-Colts Neck Stables LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert. $20,000.
3–Oviatt Class, 120, c, 3, Bernardini–Occasionally, by Tiznow.
($37,000 Wlg '19 KEENOV; $60,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-James E
Downey; B-Godolphin & Morgan's Ford Farm (VA); T-J Keith
Desormeaux. $12,000.
Margins: 2 3/4, NO, 3/4. Odds: 2.70, 1.50, 4.20.
Also Ran: Mackinnon, Degree of Risk. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

Pedigree Notes:
The second-least-expensive of 28 colts purchased for a combined $11,250,000 ($401,786 average) by the Avengers at the 2020 Keeneland September sale, Newgrange becomes Violence's 13th graded stakes winner. The Avengers have also shown an affinity for, and had significant success with, sire Empire Maker. The excellent broodmare sire influence is responsible for 30 graded winners, including 2021 GISWs Silver State (Hard Spun), Mandaloun (Into Mischief) and Rock Your World (Candy Ride {Arg}). The winner's unraced dam is a daughter of Grade II winner Bella Chiarra (Phone Trick). She produced another Violence colt last April before being bred to War of Will.

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