R3 Racing LLC’s Sharp Aza Tack lived up to his name in the $100,000 Tyro Stakes (Black Type) at Monmouth Park Saturday when he set the pace and then blew away the field.
With Power Attack breaking first Sharp Aza Tack quickly moved to the lead but with Jorge Vargas, Jr., up Power Attack kept the pressure on with Jeremy’s Jet ridden by Albin Jimenez following right behind. Power Attack continued to stalk the leader with Jeremy’s Jet until the straight when Bart’s Dream moved into third and Sharp Aza Tack went into turbo.
Drawing away four lengths ahead of the field Sharp Aza Tack expertly piloted by Jairo Rendon was ridden out winning by 7 1/4 lengths. Power Attack was 1 3/4 lengths off with Bart’s Dream under Samy Camacho 2 1/2 lengths back.
Jeremy’s Jet who had chased between had no rally. Ferrari Kid, Dangerous Ride and Run Happy Pappy complete the order of finish.
“I didn’t know much about this horse since his only race was in California. I knew from the past performances that he is very quick from the gate. So I was expecting the same from him today – and that’s what he did. The only thing Doug O’Neill said to me was `he’s a quick horse. Just go.’ Once he got into stride he took off. He won very easily in his second start, and he won easily in his first start so it looks like he could be a good one.” Jockey Rendon recounted.
Fractions were 21.49 44.12 with a final time of 55.71. The track record is Just Chillin Boss in 54.66 on August 24, 2012
Sharp Aza Tack paid $4.00, 2.40, 2.20; Power Attack paid $3.00, 2.40; and Bart’s Dream paid $3.00. The Exacta paid $12.20.
Sharp Aza Tack comes from the barn of west coast trainer Doug O’Neil and shipped in from California for the Monmouth Race.
“I decided to ship the horse to Monmouth Park (after his debut at Santa Anita and then being based at Keeneland recently) after talking to owner Ron Arakelian. We circled the Global Tote Juvenile Sprint at Kentucky Downs (on Sept. 8) for him and we thought `what is a good spot between the win at Santa Anita and the Kentucky Downs race?’ The race at Monmouth Park was perfect. I have horses at Keeneland now and we thought the Tyro Stakes would be a good middle ground.” O”Neill remarked.
“When he made his debut he had trained well but I didn’t know if he was good enough to stay with some of the top baby sprinters on the dirt in California. We put him in that grass sprint and I would be lying if I didn’t say I was shocked at how well he raced. He came out of it great so why would we mess around with surfaces? We didn’t over-think it. It’s not brain surgery. The only thing we said to (jokey) Jairo Rendon was to take advantage of this horse’s speed. He rode him with a lot of confidence. There were some good runners in there. I couldn’t have been more impressed or more proud of the way he ran. It’s hard to be more impressive than he was,” he commented further.
A son of Sharp Azteca out of Que Chulo by six-time graded stakes winning Bernardini, the cleverly named Sharp Aza Tack was first purchased at the Keeneland 2021 September Yearling Sale before being sold for $100,000 at the Ocala Breeders March 2022 Two-Year-Olds In Training Sale.
Winning his debut at Santa Anita on June 6, five furlongs at 57.18, the colt is undefeated with earnings of $100,200.
By Maribeth Kalinich, Senior Editor
#6 Sharp Aza Tack expertly piloted by Jockey Jairo Rendon. Photo By Ryan Denver/EQUI-PHOTO
