Before Stretching Out Power Attack Sprints in Tyro

Trainer Kent Sweezey is convinced that his 2-year-old colt Power Attack  will be at his best going two turns on the grass. He was also hoping to find a race at Saratoga Race Course this summer for the New York-bred son of War Dancer  .

But circumstances have dictated otherwise with the promising Power Attack, who will make his third straight start in a five-furlong sprint July 30, doing so in the $100,000 Tyro Stakes on turf at Monmouth Park.

"He probably should not be doing what he is doing right now. He's bred to go long on the grass," said Sweezey. "I wish there was a stakes race for 2 year-olds going long, but he seems to be doing this okay.

"I can't wait to stretch him out, though."

Power Attack, co-owned by Sweezey and Tom Swales' Tee N Jay Stable, has done little wrong in his first two career starts. He was second in his debut in an off-the-turf maiden special weight sprint at Belmont Park June 9, then won his next start at five furlongs on the turf in another maiden special weight sprint at Belmont by 2 3/4 lengths July 8.

"His first race was an open off-the-turf, and even though he is bred to go two runs on the grass, he was pretty forward early on," Sweezey. said. "So I thought I'd give him a race even though it came off the turf. He ran hard and fast. He got beat by a Todd Pletcher horse (Morethanreadyeddie), but he ran well.

"I wanted to send him to Saratoga after that, but there was nothing in the book for him. So we ran at Belmont again, and he just galloped on the grass. The stakes race at Monmouth made the most sense for where he is right now even though it's short."

Sweezey, coming off a career year that saw him win 63 races in 2021, is also still basking in in the stunning runner-up finish by Epic Bromance  in the July 23 United Nations Stakes (G1T).

Power Attack, out of the Street Hero  mare Street Magic , could give Sweezey his first stakes win of the Monmouth Park meet. He also keeps a division at Gulfstream Park.

"I don't like to push 2-year-olds, but he kept doing everything right," Sweezey said. "When the gates would open when we first started with him, he was like a rocket ship. He has kept progressing since then."

Six others are entered in the Tyro, which also attracted R3 Racing's Southern California invader Sharp Aza Tack  for trainer Doug O'Neill. The son of Sharp Azteca   won his lone start, also sprinting five-eighths on grass, when unveiled June 10 at Santa Anita Park.

Quick-returning Jeremy's Jet , a fast July 21 maiden winner in the mud at Saratoga for Paul McEntee and Alyssa Trawitzki, also figures to command support, despite not having raced on turf.

Entries: Tyro S.

Monmouth Park, Saturday, July 30, 2022, Race 5

• STK
• 5f
• Turf
• $100,000
• 2 yo
• 2:11 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	Power Attack (NY)	Jorge A. Vargas, Jr.	117	J. Kent Sweezey	-
2	Jeremy's Jet (KY)	Albin Jimenez	117	Paul McEntee	-
3	Ferrari Kid (KY)	Edwin Rivera	117	Scott A. Lake	-
4	Dangerous Ride (FL)	Nik Juarez	117	Carlos A. David	-
5	Bart's Dream (FL)	Samy Camacho	117	Jose Francisco D'Angelo	-
6	Sharp Aza Tack (KY)	Jairo Rendon	117	Doug F. O'Neill	-
7	Run Happy Pappy (NY)	Jomar Torres	117	Chuck Spina	-