Earns 10 points towards the Kentucky Derby
Dash Attack made it 2-for-2 in his young career for trainer Kenny McPeek when he and jockey David Cohen blew past the field in the stretch to win the US$250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes over a sloppy track at Oaklawn Park on Saturday.
Dash Attack settled near the rear of the 13-horse field as Ben Diesel (5-1) and 30-1 long shot Ruggs set a contested pace of 23.03, 46.38 and 1:12.34 for six furlongs. Dash Attack was behind a wall of horses on the second turn when racing on the inside, but when angled out for running room, the Munnings colt accelerated through the stretch to win by two lengths.
The final time for one mile was 1:39.44.
“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.”
Dash Attack paid $17.40 as the fifth choice in the wagering. He was followed across the wire by Barber Road, who earned 10 Derby points, Ignitis (2 points) and Kavod (1).
“I’m just really pleased with the job David and my team did over there," McPeek said. "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.”