Sharp Aza Tack will stretch out in Kentucky Downs Juvenile Sprint

The 2-year-old colt Sharp Aza Tack has speed to spare, as he showed winning his career debut, a Santa Anita turf sprint, and the July 30 Tyro Stakes at Monmouth Park. In both races, Sharp Aza Tack set or contested a fast pace, though quick splits had no effect on him in the Tyro, which he won by more than seven lengths with an 85 Beyer Speed Figure.

Still, the colt’s connections don’t see Sharp Aza Track strictly as a fast, precocious sprinter. Sharp Aza Tack, who raced over five furlongs in both starts, will get a chance to see out 6 1/2 furlongs in the $500,000 Juvenile Sprint on Sept. 8 at Kentucky Downs, and trainer Doug O’Neill believes the colt will handle two turns at some point this year.

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“He came out of [the Tyro] in great shape and Kentucky Downs here we come,” said O’Neill, who shipped Sharp Aza Tack back to his string at Keeneland. “You never know until you try, but I don’t think longer will be a problem. It seemed like he was getting stronger later the other day. He has a tremendous amount of speed and shows stamina, too. If he stays injury-free, two-turn races will be an option.”

Sharp Aza Tack is by first-crop sire Sharp Azteca, a fast middle-distance dirt horse. His dam, Que Chulo, by Bernardini, was a sprinter, as was her best foal to race, Willoughby Chase. Sharp Aza Tack campaigns for R3 Racing.