Grade 1-placed Cadet Connelly stands out on strong card

Three-year-olds with stakes experience highlight a competitive field for an allowance event that is one of the features on Friday’s eclectic card at Tampa Bay Downs.

The nine-race program, which also includes a handicap for fillies and mares and a maiden race for juveniles, has again attracted large fields. Including also-eligibles, there is an average field size of 11.3 entrants.

Grade 1-placed Cadet Connelly jumps off the program page of the sixth race, a $20,000 allowance/optional-claiming race on the turf for 3-year-olds who have never won a race other than maiden, claiming, or starter, or who have never won two races. Cadet Connelly, who is racing for the $75,000 tag, was multiple stakes-placed last year and finished second in the Grade 1 Summer Stakes last September at Woodbine.

In his first start following that, more than seven months later, he was fourth under similar conditions to this race, going a mile at Tampa. The Grey Swallow gelding will have Ronnie Allen Jr. in the irons for trainer Teresa Connelly. He will be getting Lasix for the first time.

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Summer Assault, with Angel Suarez named to ride for Michele Boyce, has made all four of his starts at Tampa and has a maiden victory on the turf. Earlier this year, the Summer Front gelding was third in the Columbia Stakes going a mile on the Tampa turf. He now stretches out to 1 1/16 miles.

Summer Assault earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 75 for his effort in the Columbia, tied for the best number in this field. However, the speed figures in this race show parity. Cadet Connelly posted a 73 for his run in the Summer, and seven of the 10 entrants in this race have broken the threshold of 70.

Alley Oop Johnny finished fourth in the Columbia after setting the pace. He will likely get company on the front end from Gravitas, who will be facing winners for the first time after a front-running debut victory going a mile at Tampa last month. Alley Oop Johnny is running for the optional claiming tag.

Immediately following this allowance on the card is a $30,000 handicap for fillies and mares. The highweight at 118 pounds is the Pennsylvania-bred Redeem My Heart. The filly spent her early career competing at Presque Isle Downs in her native state, finishing a close second in the Malvern Rose Stakes last fall, before getting on the road this year. She most recently finished third behind the multiple stakes winner Puntsville in a solid Tampa allowance on May 8.

Earlier, the fifth race is a $20,000 maiden special weight for 2-year-olds, with seven of the nine entrants first-time starters. The two with prior experience will look to get off to better starts. Hail Rich Legacy finished sixth in his April 17 debut after getting away slowly. Dr Parker was sixth May 8 after being bumped at the start.

Although the race is open, all but Dr Parker were bred in Florida. One of the state’s freshman sires, classic-placed Ride On Curlin, is represented by Lil Green Machine.