Avie's Flatter Seeks Return to Winning Ways in Eclipse
Image:
Description:
Photo: Michael Burns
Avie's Flatter works June 26 at Woodbine
Sovereign Award winner Avie's Flatter seeks a return to winning ways July 4 in the CA$175,000 Eclipse Stakes (G2) at Woodbine.
The Eclipse, run at 1 1/16 miles on the Toronto oval's all-weather track, has attracted seven older horses.
Avie's Flatter last crossed the line in front in the Kentucky Utilities Transylvania Stakes (G3T) at Keeneland in April 2019. He was third last out June 11, a half-length out of the top spot, in a 7 1/2-furlong allowance race on the inner turf at Woodbine.
The champion 2-year-old of 2018 in Canada, the son of Flatter contested all the Canadian Triple Crown races last year, finishing second in the Queen's Plate and Prince of Wales Stakes, and third in the Breeders' Stakes for owner/breeder Ivan Dalos.
"He had a good winter but was set to run in the spring," trainer Josie Carroll said. "We didn't get that opportunity, and it was a little difficult to keep him focused and waiting. We got a nice race into him now, and I think that's going to propel him forward. He always shows up. We're taking a step forward, running with older horses this year. It's a different game."
Carroll will also send out Earle Mack's 5-year-old homebred Mr Ritz in his first start since a runner-up finish in the Nov. 3 Autumn Stakes (G2). The son of Oasis Dream just missed winning last year's Eclipse when he finished a nose back of Souper Tapit. He won the Seagram Cup Stakes (G3) and took the Presque Isle Mile from five starts last year.
"I think he had a tremendous season last year," Carroll said. "We gave him the whole winter off and freshened him up. We really had targeted a midsummer start anyway, so everything's fallen into place properly for him. He was just impressive all of last year. Every time you send him out to do something, he just goes out and gets the job done. He matured a lot last year. It took him a while to settle into things, and he's just really grown up. He's turned into a pretty special horse."
Three-time stakes winner Cooler Mike, a 5-year-old son of Giant Gizmo, looks to get back on track Saturday. Bred and owned by father/son duo Mike and Nick Nosowenko, the gelding is one of the most consistent competitors at Woodbine, having assembled a 6-4-5 career record from 21 starts.
Three of those wins came last year as the Ontario-bred took the Halton, Bunty Lawless, and Sir Barton stakes. He narrowly missed making it four added-money wins, finishing a neck behind Kingsport in the Steady Growth Stakes.
"When you win three stakes with an Ontario horse, I think it's a pretty good highlight," said Nick Nosowenko, who also trains Cooler Mike. "Then he lost that close one in the Steady Growth, which was another big effort. He's come around to be a very good horse. He's very sound now, and that's the best thing going into a race like this."
Cooler Mike contested two of the Canadian Triple Crown Series races in his sophomore season. He was third in both the Queen's Plate and the Prince of Wales in 2018. He arrives off a fifth-place finish in his 2020 debut, that same June 11 allowance event in which Avie's Flatter finished third.
Woodbine, Saturday, July 04, 2020, Race 8Entries: Eclipse S. (G2)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Uncle Bull (KY)
Kazushi Kimura
116
Mark E. Casse
6/1
2
2Avie's Flatter (ON)
Luis Contreras
120
Josie Carroll
3/1
3
3Solidify (KY)
Emma-Jayne Wilson
116
John Charalambous
20/1
4
4Mr Ritz (GB)
Patrick Husbands
120
Josie Carroll
1/1
5
5Cooler Mike (ON)
Justin Stein
118
Nicholas Nosowenko
5/1
6
6Skywire (ON)
Rafael Manuel Hernandez
118
Mark E. Casse
10/1
7
7Journeyman (KY)
David Moran
116
Eoin G. Harty
12/1
