Great Attack, a son of Stonewall Farm Ocala sire Greatness, earns initial stakes victory
With all the success Florida-bred Great Attack enjoyed sprinting on the turf last year, it’s hard to believe he headed into action Saturday winless in black-type races. That was quickly remedied, though, as Great Attack finally notched the first stakes win of his career in winning the $75,000 Turf Dash at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday.
The 5-year-old son of Greatness rallied from mid-pack to hit the wire just ahead of fellow Sunshine State product Western Prospector in the five-furlong turf fixture, stopping the clock in :55.93 over a course labeled good.
Argentine-bred Private Jet, the 2-1 favorite based on the strength of his victory over Great Attack last time out at Gulfstream Park, finished a fast-closing third. Florida-bred Little Nick, after menacing around the turn, wound up fourth. Jeffrey Sanchez piloted the winner.
“We were farther back than I hoped to be early, and he seemed to be uncomfortable with the ground – maybe it was too soft for him,” Sanchez said. “But he seemed to get more confident as we got into the turn, and by the time we got to the stretch he was really firing.”
The winner was sent out by trainer Dennis Ward, deputizing for his son, Wesley. Bred by Edward Seltzer and Murray Durst, Great Attack races in the colors of Houyhnhnm Stable.
Great Attack is now a winner in five of 15 career starts. Although he is graded-stakes placed and finished fourth in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G2) at Churchill Downs, the Turf Dash score was his initial victory.
Based at Wesley’s Gulfstream Park barn, Great Attack arrived in Oldsmar at the elder Ward’s barn at 9 a.m. Saturday, and the trainer said he looked to be in superb shape. He was confident Great Attack was primed to improve on his narrow defeat by fellow Sunshine State product Bridgetown in last year’s Turf Dash.
“I think (Great Attack) is better than last year. He is a little more seasoned,” Dennis Ward said. “He hasn’t run that many times. Wesley picks his spots with his good ones. And this was no easy spot, believe me. This is as tough as any place in the country.”
Wesley Ward also entered Madman Diaries, a 4-year-old gelding he owns in partnership with Robert Teel, but scratched him the morning of the race.
“(Madman Diaries) has a little more speed than Great Attack, and we thought there was enough speed in this race,” Dennis said. “I don’t like running first and second in any race; what good does that do you? Just win, and save the other horse for another race.”
Runner-up Western Prospector suffered his second tough beat in a row. He also finished second last time out over the Tampa turf in an allowance dash. Jockey Leandro Goncalves thought he might be the winner in deep stretch until Great Attack roared past.
“When I asked him to run, he came away really nicely. I thought we had won it,” Goncalves said.
Western Prospector is a 6-year-old son of Stonehedge Farm South stallion West Acre out of the Premiership mare Pleasant Dilemma. He was bred by Gilbert Campbell and is owned by Midwest Thoroughbreds Inc. Jamie Ness is the conditioner.
Photo by Cooley
