Fly to the Bank goes for repeat in TRAO Classic Sprint

Fly to the Bank will be looking to lock up the seventh stakes win of his career Tuesday, when he defends his title in the $55,000 TRAO Classic Sprint at Will Rogers Downs in Claremore, Okla.

The six-furlong race is for 3-year-olds and up bred in Oklahoma. The field of seven includes the consistent Tommyhawk and the talented Connors Outlaw.

Fly to the Bank was a two-length winner of this race a year ago, while Tommyhawk finished third. Fly to the Bank has held his good form over the last year as he came out of the Remington Park meet with a pair of stakes wins in the Oklahoma Classics Night Sprint and the Silver Goblin. The success helped push his career earnings over $500,000.

Fly to the Bank last raced Nov. 29 at Remington and was second in an allowance for Oklahoma-breds that was run over seven furlongs. The strong race drew multiple stakes winners Rowdy Rascal, who won, and Number One Dude, who was third. Fly to the Bank was beaten just three-quarters of a length, and the Beyer Speed Figure of 83 that he earned is the best last-race number in the field Tuesday.

Fly to the Bank was making a rare start at seven furlongs and has had a good amount of his success at the six-furlong distance of the TRAO Sprint. Elvin Gonzalez has the mount from post 2 for Juan Carlos Gallegos and trainer Steve Martin.

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Fly to the Bank, who is 4 for 9 at Will Rogers, could get an ideal tracking trip off Connors Outlaw. Connors Outlaw will break from the rail under Leandro Goncalves.

Connors Outlaw is moving back into Oklahoma-bred company after winning a two-other-than allowance over open foes in November at Remington and finishing fourth in another allowance Feb. 4 at Sam Houston Race Park. The most recent allowance was won by a past Springboard Mile winner, Wildatlanticstorm.

Connors Outlaw is looking for his first stakes win after running third in last year’s Oklahoma Classics Sprint and second in the Silver Goblin. Prior to those races, he won an allowance over Fly to the Bank, also at Remington.

Kari Craddock trains Connors Outlaw. The son of Cinco Charlie races for his breeder, Cisper Racing. Connors Outlaw is 2 for 4 at Will Rogers.

Tommyhawk has placed in a number of stakes over the last year. His efforts include a runner-up finish in the Oklahoma Classics Sprint and a third-place finish in the Silver Goblin. He is cutting back from two turns for the TRAO Sprint. Tommyhawk last raced in a $30,000 overnight handicap in March at Will Rogers and finished third. That start gives him recency over regular rival Fly to the Bank.

Tommyhawk is looking for his first win at Will Rogers, where in 12 local starts he has been second twice and third seven times. He will break from post 6 under Curtis Kimes.

Tommyhawk is a son of Kick On who races for Kim Swango and is trained by his breeder, Randy Swango.

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