Dash Attack Second Stakes Winner of Day for Munnings

The on-fire Munnings carried his 2021 success into 2022 on the first day of the year when Dash Attack (3c Munnings x Cerce Cay, by Hard Spun) became his second stakes winner on Saturday in the Listed Smarty Jones Stakes.

The Kenny McPeek trainee showed that entering a stakes in only his second race was the right move with the victory earning him 10 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Dash Attack broke a step slowly in the one-mile stakes race before racing in mipack under David Cohen over five lengths off the dueling leaders. The sophomore moved closer as they raced toward the far turn but still had plenty of traffic to navigate to hit the lead.

Cohan piloted Dash Attack to the outside and the clear path was all the colt needed to take command inside the final eighth. No horses could go with him and Dash Attack raced to the line with his ears pricked to win by two lengths.

Breeders Catalyst Stable and Magdalena Racing are joined in his racing ownership by Kevin Pollard and Patty Slevin with McPeek also training his winning dam Cerce Cay for the breeders and G2 Associates.

The dam of three winners from three to race, Cerce Cay is also a half-sister to multiple stakes winners Song of Navarone and Celluloid Hero in addition to Grade III-placed Reel Legend.

Dash Attack has a yearling full sister coming as well.

On the first day of the year, Munnings has sired two U.S. stakes winners in addition to UAE 1000 Guineas Trial winner Shahama.