Gray Attempt works for Southwest Stakes

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Gray Attempt worked Sunday morning at Oaklawn Park for an intended start in the Grade 3, $500,000 Southwest Stakes, a Kentucky Derby points race scheduled for Feb. 18.

Gray Attempt, who is an individual interest in Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, has won back-to-back stakes in his last two starts. He captured the $74,000 Sugar Bowl on Dec. 22 at Fair Grounds, then moved to two turns for the first time and picked up 10 points for the Kentucky Derby by wiring the field in the $150,000 Smarty Jones on Jan. 25 at Oaklawn.

On Sunday Gray Attempt worked first after the renovation break, under light rain with temperatures in the mid-30s. He went five-eighths by himself, with Oaklawn clockers timing him in 1:00.20 on a sealed track labeled muddy. He came home his final quarter in 23.60 seconds, according to clockers, and galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.60.

“I just wanted a maintenance work, just keep him where we got him, and he’s where we want him to be,” trainer Jinks Fires said.

Jockey Channing Hill worked Gray Attempt, just as he did ahead of the Smarty Jones. Fires said Shaun Bridgmohan, who has ridden the horse in all four of his career starts, has the mount in the Southwest.

Fires said Gray Attempt could have a blowout in advance of the Southwest.

Gray Attempt is a son of Graydar who has won 3 of 4 starts and earned $184,700 for owner Dwight Pruett.

The Southwest is a 1 1/16-mile race that will dole out Kentucky Derby points to its first four finishers on a sliding scale of 10-4-2-1. The race will share a program with the Grade 3, $500,000 Razorback Handicap and the Grade 3, $200,000 Bayakoa.

Entries for the three races will be taken Friday. They will be part of a 10-race program, Oaklawn racing secretary Pat Pope said.