Roughly four hours after his final major work for the race, locally based Gray Attempt drew post 8 Friday morning for the $150,000 Smarty Jones Stakes for 3-year-olds this Friday at Oaklawn Park.
The one-mile Smarty Jones, Oaklawn's first of four major preps for the Kentucky Derby, headlines a nine-race card to open the scheduled 57-day season. Probable post time for the Smarty Jones, which goes as the eighth race, is 3:52 p.m. First post is 12:35 p.m.
Breezing over a fast surface about 30 minutes after the track opened, Gray Attempt covered 5 furlongs in 1:00 1-5 under Chel-c Bailey. It was the fastest of 55 times recorded at the distance.
"Very good work," said trainer Jinks Fires, of Hot Springs. "Very pleased with it."
Owned by Dwight Pruett of Texarkana, Gray Attempt has won 2 of 3 career starts, including the $74,250 Sugar Bowl Stakes on Dec. 22 at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans. The Smarty Jones will be his first start around two turns. Fires and Pruett teamed to win the 2016 Smarty Jones with Discreetness.
The nine-horse Smarty Jones field from the rail out: Long Range Toddy, Richard Eramia to ride, 122 pounds; Sleepy Eyes Todd, David Cabrera, 115; Super Steed, Terry Thompson, 119; Six Shooter, Stewart Elliott, 122; Boldor, Ramon Vazquez, 115; Forloveofcountry, Joe Bravo, 119; Bankit, Ricardo Santana Jr., 119; Gray Attempt, Shaun Bridgmohan, 119; and Jack Van Berg, Jon Court, 115.
Long Range Toddy and Bankit finished 1-2, respectively, in the $400,000 Springboard Mile on Dec. 16 at Remington Park in Oklahoma City for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. Six Shooter won the $75,000 Big Drama Stakes on Jan. 5 at Delta Downs Racetrack in Louisiana for trainer Paul Holthus, of Hot Springs. Super Steed was fourth as the favorite in the Sugar Bowl for trainer Larry Jones.
The Smarty Jones offers 17 points to the top four finishers (10-4-2-1) toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Derby.
The track was rated fast for workouts Friday morning and muddy on Saturday.
Millionaire Shotgun Kowboy worked a half-mile in :49 1-5 after the second renovation break Friday morning for breeder, owner and trainer C.R. Trout. Shotgun Kowboy was breezed by David Cabrera, Oaklawn's second-leading rider last year.
Multiple stakes winner Flameaway, in company, worked a half-mile in :48 3-5 Friday morning for trainer Mark Casse. Flameaway, a 4-year-old Scat Daddy colt, is a career winner of $834,834.
Stakes-winning sprinter Shannon C, a 2018 Oaklawn maiden winner, worked a half-mile in :48 4-5 Friday morning for trainer Scott Young.
Wilbo, winner of the $125,000 King Cotton Stakes for older sprinters last year at Oaklawn, worked 6 furlongs in 1:15 3-5 Saturday morning for Chris Hartman, Oaklawn's leading trainer in 2015.
Entries for Saturday, the second day of the meeting, will be drawn Monday. Saturday's card is highlighted by the $100,000 American Beauty Stakes for older female sprinters.
Sports on 01/20/2019