Scott sends out two contenders in turf allowances
OLDSMAR, Fla. – Trainer Joan Scott and jockey Ronnie Allen Jr. could be the stars of the show Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs with formidable contenders in a pair of one-mile turf allowances that serve as the highlights of the 10-race card.
Speed Seeker should be out front in race 3, which offers a $25,000 purse. None of the six fillies and mares ages 3 and up in the field is entered for the optional $62,500 claiming tag.
As a 3-year-old in 2014, Speed Seeker scored the biggest win of her career going a mile on grass at Woodbine, taking the Grade 3 Ontario Colleen by 4 3/4 lengths. Speed Seeker has faced tough company this year. On this course in March, she held the lead in the Grade 3 Hillsborough Stakes before finishing third, beaten 2 3/4 lengths by Stephanie’s Kitten, who went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf and is a top candidate for an Eclipse Award as champion turf female.
In September at Laurel Park, Speed Seeker set the pace before finishing second to two-time stakes winner Interrupted in the $150,000 Lady Baltimore. Most recently, in an optional $100,000 claimer at Belmont Park, she led most of the way before finishing fourth behind Grade 2 winner Filimbi.
“She’s very honest,” Scott said. “She doesn’t have to be on the lead, but she kind of naturally cruises out there. I know it’s not for much money, but this turf course is fantastic, so we want to run here here.”
Speed Seeker will start from the outside post under Allen, who has won two of his four mounts for Scott at Tampa since the start of 2014. She’ll be challenged by V V Goodnight, who is 2 for 2 on the Tampa grass course, and the British-bred Marabea, the runner-up in the Group 3 Premio Dormello in Italy last year.
In race 9, a first-level $23,000 allowance, Scott and Allen will team up with Scottish Sweetie against seven fillies and mares ages 3 and up. Scottish Sweetie, a 3-year-old daughter of Lemon Drop Kid, has a win and two runner-up finishes in three tries on the Tampa grass. She most recently rallied from last of nine to be a close third in an optional $16,000 claimer at the Meadowlands.
“She was stuck behind horses the whole time and had nowhere to go,” Scott said. “She’s a very honest and willing horse who just has had some bad luck, but I think it will work out better for her on Saturday.”
Standing in her way will be Babe’s Ruler, who will be ridden by two-time leading rider Antonio Gallardo. Babe’s Ruler was claimed away from Scott by nine-time leading trainer Jamie Ness just last Saturday after winning a $16,000 claimer on the Tampa turf course.