There's nothing quite as satisfying for a Thoroughbred trainer as a plan that comes together with a promising 2-year-old. That's the case with Power Attack, a son of War Dancer trained by Kent Sweezey, who takes aim at the $500,000 purse in the Sept. 17 Nownownow Stakes at Monmouth Park.
The Nownownow, at a mile on the grass, highlights the final weekend of the meet at the Jersey Shore track.
"It has kind of been our plan all along to get to this race with him," said Sweezey. "I'm actually surprised we got here—shocked in a way—because it's horse racing. I'm excited about the opportunity."
The Nownownow has attracted a field of 10, and because it's a big-money grass race, trainer Chad Brown enters with a horse that, on paper, will be the one to beat. Oxymore is 2-for-2 lifetime, winning a pair of grass sprints in New York.
But Sweezey likes his horse's chances for a variety of reasons. He owns a win and two seconds from three career starts, making him the most experienced horse in the field. He is convinced that Power Attack wants two turns as well, even though all of his career starts have been at five furlongs.
"I actually do not think sprinting is his game," said Sweezey, who splits divisions between Monmouth Park and Gulfstream Park. "From what I see he is very much a two-turn horse. He's training great. He looks awesome. I want nothing more than to win one of Monmouth Park's biggest races."
The New York-bred Power Attack, co-owned by Tee-N-Jay Farm and Sweezey, has already far exceeded his $20,000 yearling price tag. He was second in his June debut at Belmont Park on the dirt before rolling to a front-running score against state-breds at the Elmont oval on the grass. He then ran into a buzzsaw in the Tyro Stakes at Monmouth in his most recent start when settling for runner-up honors behind R3 Racing's Sharp Aza Tack.
"When we bought (Power Attack) I didn't think he would have the speed that he does," said Sweezey. "We sent him to Thorostock (in Ocala, Fla.) with Nick Sallusto and they broke him. Nick kept calling me saying, 'I like this horse.' I was like, 'Come on, Nick. Be honest with me. Just tell me the truth.' He said, 'No, I really like this horse.'"
Kendrick Carmouche, who was aboard the colt's first two career starts, will be in for the ride.
"These are 2-year-olds, so you never know," said Sweezey. "A couple of them have gone two turns but a lot of them have not. We have the most experience with three races. Some horses only have one. And we have yet to finish worse than second.
"I'm looking forward to this. This is what we have been pointing to since the beginning of the season. When I look at the field I see us getting a good trip. I think he has enough speed to put us in the first flight and hopefully some of those horses are not meant to go that far."
Monmouth Park, Saturday, September 17, 2022, Race 11Entries: Nownownow S.
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Let's Go Big Blue (NY) Eric Cancel 115 George Weaver 8/1 2 2Power Attack (NY) Kendrick Carmouche 115 J. Kent Sweezey 6/1 3 3Torigo (KY) Isaac Castillo 115 Danny Gargan 20/1 4 4El de Chimi (KY) Paco Lopez 117 Juan Carlos Avila 4/1 5 5Torrone (KY) UNKNOWN 117 Kelly J. Breen 15/1 6 6Love Me Not (KY) Carlos Eduardo Rojas 117 Gregory D. Sacco 6/1 7 7Oxymore (KY) Jose L. Ortiz 121 Chad C. Brown 2/1 8 8Bramble Blaze (KY) Jairo Rendon 117 Michael Dini 6/1 9 9Conman (NY) Nik Juarez 115 Mark E. Casse 10/1 10 10Webslinger (KY) Dylan Davis 115 Mark E. Casse 10/1
