OLDSMAR, Fla. – The Cookie Man has been one sweet treat for trainer Teresa Connelly and jockey Pablo Morales at this Tampa Bay Downs meet, winning two sprints and finishing second in another. On Wednesday, he will look to transfer that good dirt form to turf while routing for the first time in the featured sixth race, a first-level optional $75,000 claimer going one mile. Nine 3-year-olds signed up to compete for the $22,500 purse, and The Cookie Man figures to be on or near the lead after breaking from post 3. The Cookie Man began his meet in December with a 2 3/4-length victory in a $25,000 claimer at six furlongs and was even more impressive in February, taking a 6 1/2-furlong sprint at this level by 4 3/4 lengths. He’s made his last two starts at seven furlongs, finishing second to the well-regarded Todd Pletcher trainee Egyptian Hero and then fading to sixth place while making his stakes debut in the $100,000 Sophomore Stakes for Florida-breds on April 2. Morales has been aboard The Cookie Man for his last five starts and said he thinks the gelding can handle the surface switch and added distance. “I think he’ll handle turf just fine,” Morales said. “He’s shown that he definitely can run, and we’ll see how he relaxes on turf. He’s just a little bit aggressive sometimes and wants to do it all at once, but we’re hoping he might settle a little bit better on the turf. He’s a very strong horse, and with this being his first race at two turns, I’m not really sure what to expect. It’s just a matter of if he relaxes enough to have something left for the end.” KEY CONTENDERS, RACE 6 The Cookie Man, by Wildcat Heir Last 3 Beyers: 52-77-77 ◗ The late Wildcat Heir has been Florida’s leading turf sire each year since 2014, but this gelding’s dam, the Langfuhr mare Mamma Lina, offers few clues about how The Cookie Man will run on turf. She lost her only turf start, and her only other foal to race has never tried grass. ◗ Since the start of 2016, Connelly and Morales have teamed up to win with only two of their 29 starters here, with both victories turned in by The Cookie Man. But Morales is having a strong meet, with 69 wins from 338 mounts (20 percent). Prince Arlo, by Astrology Last 3 Beyers: 66-67-61 ◗ Gelding also should be forwardly placed after setting the pace and settling for third in a starter optional claimer on turf here April 9. Two Steps Before, by Two Step Salsa Last 3 Beyers: 65-62-62 ◗ He was out front for much of the 1 1/16-mile Sophomore Stakes before fading in the final sixteenth and could benefit from the slightly reduced distance here. Racings My Game, by Ghostly Minister Last 3 Beyers: 57-81-70 ◗ He earned this field’s highest Beyer Speed Figure two back when crushing $25,000 claimers by 7 3/4 lengths at a mile on this turf course, an effort that likely would win this and give jockey Ronnie Allen Jr. his 3,500th career victory.