Listed, $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes, Oaklawn Park, Jan. 1, 2022 (10 Derby qualifying points for first, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth) Winner: Dash Attack, by Munnings Trainer: Ken McPeek Jockey: David Cohen Owner: Catalyst Stable, Magdalena Racing, Kevin Pollard, and Patty Slevin Beyer Speed Figure: 82 For DASH ATTACK, the Road to the Derby goes through Hot Springs. He followed up his debut win at Oaklawn four weeks earlier with this late-running victory in his stakes debut, and there’s no reason for him to not stay locally for the terrific, well-spaced series of Derby preps at Oaklawn. The Beyer Figure in this race was nothing special, but it was an eight-point jump from his first start. The aspects of Dash Attack I’ll most want to follow in upcoming races are whether he will be suited to longer distances – offspring of Munnings generally are best closer to a flat mile – and whether he’ll be as effective on dry land. Both his starts have been on off tracks, and he has a superior pedigree for the wet stuff. Munnings is by Speightstown, and Dash Attack is out of a Hard Spun mare. He’s got a lofty 426 Tomlinson rating for a wet track, deserved considering the pedigree, confirmed via performance. In this race, Dash Attack broke a bit slowly but was able to secure a good position, midpack while saving ground, around the first turn. He stayed in that spot to the far turn, was inside early on the turn, then had to wait in traffic a little less than three furlongs out. He was angled off the rail by Cohen and came into the stretch in the five path, showed an excellent turn of foot in upper stretch to kick clear, and was never threatened through the final furlong. BARBER ROAD, who finished second, was midpack while three paths wide around the first turn, raced alongside HOME BREW for much of the backstretch, then was under an energetic ride between rivals to hold his position on the far turn. He angled out to the three path coming off the bend, could not keep up with Dash Attack in upper stretch, but kept to his task. He acts like a one-paced sort who won’t be hindered by distance. But he will need to improve his figs. :: KENTUCKY DERBY 2022: Point standings, prep schedule, news, and more IGNITIS, who was third, hopped slightly at the start but quickly recovered and went into the first turn between Dash Attack and Barber Road. He went into the far turn in the three to four path, advanced but was carried wider a quarter-mile out, lost position at that point, but kept plugging away through the lane. He ran in spots, like a horse who might want blinkers. KAVOD, who was fourth, had good speed leaving the gate and went into the first turn in the two path, just behind the dueling leaders. He stayed in that ideal stalking spot down the backstretch, advanced on the leaders on the far turn from the three path without being asked, started to be pushed along midway on the turn, had the lead coming off the bend, then weakened late. He could not have had a better trip. He just didn’t stay. VIVAR, who was fifth, bumped leaving the gate with RUGGS and then bumped with DON’TCROSSTHEDEVIL. He had no speed and raced near the rear of the pack into the first turn while saving ground. He dropped back further turning up the backside, made up some ground on the far turn while initially four paths wide, was floated to the seven path coming off the bend, then went evenly while passing some tired rivals. CAIRAMA, who was sixth, broke last and trailed into the first turn while off the rail. He was on the rail into the backstretch and made an extended, mid-race run along the inside to get to midpack by the far turn. He was tipped out midway on the turn but was outrun to a spot by Vivar, had to seek running room with traffic in front of him in upper stretch, and made some late progress. This was his first two-turn try. He might be worth following if he cuts back in distance next time. He might be best as a late-running, one-turn type. BEN DIESEL, who finished seventh, showed good speed from his wide draw and went into the first turn vying for the lead outside of Ruggs. He battled for the lead through a quick opening half-mile (46.38 seconds) while continuing to duel with Ruggs down the backstretch and around the far turn and gradually faded through the final furlong. Ruggs, who was eighth, didn’t break cleanly and bumped in the opening strides with Vivar but had keen speed to rush up and lead into the first turn while inside Ben Diesel. He pulled hard while on the lead, dueled through quick fractions, was pushed along midway on the far turn to try and hold his position, then weakened through the stretch. He was stretching out after two sprints. He added blinkers for this race, which seemed to make him way too aggressive early. :: DRF Bets players get free Daily Racing Form Past Performances and up to 5% weekly cashback. Click to learn more. ALL IN SYNC, who was ninth, tucked in right behind the dueling leaders around the first turn while inside Kavod. Prior to the far turn, though, Kavod got away from him, and then he was angled off the rail to try and rally from the four path on the turn. He was outrun in upper stretch while between rivals and retreated like a horse who will ultimately prefer shorter. Home Brew, who was 10th, was toward the front half of the field while saving ground around the first turn, raced inside Barber Road down the backstretch, crept closer in a menacing spot while saving ground on the far turn, but had nothing to offer after straightening away into the stretch and was outrun thereafter. Considering his trip, this was an extremely poor performance by the race favorite. BUREAU, who was 11th, was midpack while in the two path around the first turn, was outrun down the backstretch and went into the far turn toward the rear of the pack while in the two path, got through inside, but was simply outrun throughout. Don’tcrossthedevil, who was 12th, bumped with Vivar shortly after the start, checked, and dropped back to 12th, then tried to lug out early on the first turn. He was outrun heading to the far turn and was last entering the turn, was in the three path on the far turn, but was far back throughout in a dull effort. COOL PAPA G, who finished last of 13, was toward the back half of the field while four paths wide and lugging out on the first turn, started to falter well before the far turn, and tailed off badly thereafter.