Connor looks like the lone speed getting back on Tapeta
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Connor does his best running on the lead when routing on Tapeta. He has found a field without much other speed in Friday’s seventh race going 1 1/16 miles for $25,000 nonwinners-of-three claimers and 3-year-olds.
Over a speed-favoring Tapeta, Connor ran the race of his life two starts back when crushing $25,000 nonwinners-of-two foes after setting quick splits. He earned a career-high 79 Beyer Speed Figure under Pietro Moran, who also was aboard most recently when he faded after attending the pace from a three-wide position on the turn in an allowance on the turf.
Moran, the meet’s top jockey, will ride Connor again for trainer Julia Carey, who sent the 5-year-old out to work five furlongs in a bullet 1:00.80 on Nov. 5.
King Rosso, Motion Granted, Film Academy, and Quiet Vista are all also coming off a grass race.
King Rosso has stuck to the turf, for the most part, since graduating in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special on the Tapeta last fall. Trainer Kerron Palmer claimed him for $25,000 from trainer Kevin Attard in June and has sent him out to finish third three times in the interim, most recently after a troubled break and a wide trip on the inner turf. Eswan Flores retains the mount.
Film Academy was haltered for a bargain $7,500 in July by trainer Audrey Cheung, who won a $25,000 nonwinners-of-two inner turf tilt with him Sept. 12. He has stuck to the inner turf ever since, ending up second two back with a $40,000 tag before getting fried in a wicked speed duel most recently for $25,000. Expect him to revert to a stalking style while being reunited with Jeffrey Alderson, who was up for his penultimate race.
Motion Granted filled out the exacta in two of his last three outings against similar on the inner turf. He was competitive on the Tapeta in the past under Pietro’s father, David Moran, who has the call for trainer Devon Boreland.
Quiet Vista has lots of gaps among his running lines and is returning from another layoff at a reduced level without much of a chance.
Rounding out the seventh race lineup are Holiday Snooze, Fleet of Foot, Mohaymen Diamond, and Lost Star.
Holiday Snooze should be well backed on the drop from nonwinners-of-three Ontario-sired/$40,000 company, a level at which he was competitive. He has been putting up Beyers in the 70s for trainer Danny Yu, who will give the hot Ryan Munger a leg up.
Fleet of Foot is jumping up off a slow score over $15,000 nonwinnners-of-two stock and appears to have room improvement in his second start off a six-month break. Second-leading rider Fraser Aebly stays aboard the Mark Casse-trained 3-year-old.
Mohaymen Diamond is getting some noteworthy class relief following two consecutive dull performances.
Lost Star brings solid $15,000 form to the table but has yet to crack 70 on the Beyer scale.
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