Gray Attempt cutting back in Bachelor

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Gray Attempt will be looking for his third stakes win of the Oaklawn meet on Saturday, when he cuts back to one turn for the $150,000 Bachelor.

The race is for 3-year-olds over six furlongs. The field of eight includes five other stakes winners: Classy John, Nitrous, Ninth Street, Frosted Ice, and Oil Money.

But none has accomplished more than Gray Attempt, who has won three stakes races in his young career. His wins at Oaklawn have come in the $150,000 Smarty Jones at a mile on Jan. 25 and the $125,000 Gazebo at six furlongs on March 23. Overall, Gray Attempt is 4 for 7.

“I had two choices, either run him here or take him to Kentucky and run him in the Pat Day Mile,” trainer Jinks Fires said of an upcoming Grade 3 race at Churchill Downs. “He’s here, so I thought while he’s already here, we might as well run him here.”

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KEY CONTENDERS

Gray Attempt, by Graydar
Last 3 Beyers: 65-90-65

◗ He is cutting back from 1 1/8 miles in the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby on April 13, a race in which he finished ninth. It was the first time Gray Attempt had run in the slop.

“He came out of the race good,” Fires said. “He didn’t really have the best trip. He’s doing good and I look for him to run well. I look for him to run the same race he did before sprinting. He’s a talented horse.”

◗ Gray Attempt, who races for Dwight Pruett, set quick fractions and kept going to win the Gazebo on a fast track in 1:09.72. Jon Court was aboard and he has the mount Saturday from post 6.

◗ Omaha Beach, who won the Arkansas Derby, is the only other 3-year-old to have won two stakes this meet at Oaklawn.

Oil Money, by J P’s Gusto
Last 3 Beyers: 76-46-72

◗ He was a stakes winner at 2, taking the $75,000 Zia Park Juvenile on the undercard of the Zia Derby last November. Oil Money covered six furlongs in a sharp 1:09.06.

◗ He enters the Bachelor off another quick win, cruising by 3 1/4 lengths in an allowance at Turf Paradise on Feb. 9. Oil Money covered six furlongs in 1:09.39.

“We’ve had this race in mind for a while, 3-year-olds and sprinting,” said trainer Robertino Diodoro. “We flew him over here with some of the Arkansas Derby horses and he’s trained well over this track.”

◗ Oil Money will break from post 8 under Orlando Mojica, who was aboard for the Zia Juvenile.

“He’s got speed and he doesn’t need to be on the lead,” Diodoro said. “I love the draw on the outside.”

◗ Oil Money races for Charles Garvey.