Power Attack looks like one to catch in Tyro Stakes

Turf maiden winners from Belmont and Santa Anita could hook up on a fast pace Saturday at Monmouth Park and set things up for a Tapeta maiden winner from Gulfstream.

Among the seven entrants in the $100,000 Tyro, a five-furlong turf sprint for 2-year-olds, only longshot Run Happy Pappy actually has raced at Monmouth.

Rail-drawn Power Attack won a New York-bred turf-sprint maiden race July 8 at Belmont, while Jeremy’s Jet was a blowout Saratoga dirt maiden winner in his most recent start. Ferrari Kid threw a dud last out in the Kentucky Juvenile at Churchill, while Dangerous Ride and Bart’s Dream notched debut victories racing over the Tapeta surface at Gulfstream. Sharp Aza Tack lived up to his name debuting June 10 at Santa Anita, where he went wire to wire in a turf sprint.

Sharp Aza Tack has been training with Doug O’Neill’s string at Keeneland, a group of horses that includes Whitney Stakes hopeful Hot Rod Charlie. Sharp Aza Tack blitzed seven foes of relatively unknown quality in his winning debut but might he hard pressed to wrest the early lead Saturday from Power Attack.

Trained by Kent Sweezey, who last weekend sent out deep longshot Epic Bromance to a solid third-place finish in the Grade 1 United Nations Stakes over the Monmouth grass course, Power Attack was rained off turf in his career debut June 8, finishing second. A month later, he was second to none, whipping New York-bred maidens over the Belmont grass course. Power Attack, who appears to be a physically advanced horse for his age, showed good early speed in his maiden score and never wavered while coming home an eased-up 2 3/4-length winner while facing nine foes. The Monmouth course can be kind to inside speed, and if that’s the case Saturday, Power Attack might prove uncatchable.

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Jeremy’s Jet just raced July 21 and caught a sloppy Saratoga surface in a maiden race restricted to horses who cost $50,000 or less at auction. He’s never tried grass, already has started five times this season, and the two Florida synthetic-surface winners hold more appeal.

Dangerous Ride showed speed and was home by a neck in his lone start, which came two months ago, and Bart’s Dream could prove a better fit for the Tyro. Debuting June 25, Bart’s Dream settled midpack and finished with purpose to post a 1 3/4-length Tapeta win. He’d benefit from a hot, contested pace Saturday, and while his sire, Chitu, is nothing special with turf runners, his dam, Gator Brew, won her turf debut back in 2010 while raising her peak Beyer Speed Figure 10 points. Gator Brew has produced one turf winner, and Bart’s Dream could make it two in the Tyro.