Avie's Flatter Prevails in Connaught Cup
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Photo: Michael Burns
Avie's Flatter (right) wins the Connaught Cup Stakes at Woodbine
Turf stakes action kicked off July 18 at Woodbine with Ivan Dalos' popular homebred Avie's Flatter returning victorious in the CA$197,050 (US$156,265) Connaught Cup Stakes (G2T) for trainer Josie Carroll.
Prior to the Connaught, the son of Flatter cruised to a 5 1/4-length score in a June 13 allowance optional claiming race over the synthetic main track in his 5-year-old debut.
Sent to post as the 9-5 favorite against seven rivals, Avie's Flatter settled in the pocket spot behind defending champion and early pacesetter Silent Poet , who was soon joined on the lead by the streaking Irish-bred Chuck Willis through a :23.46 opening quarter over a turf course rated good.
As Chuck Willis strode ahead to take command on the way to the half-mile mark in :46.18, jockey Luis Contreras had Avie's Flatter ready to roll and went three wide around the turn. The Ontario-bred rallied down the E. P. Taylor stretch with a 1 1/2-length lead before Olympic Runner cut into into his margin with a formidable late bid. Avie's Flatter prevailed by a neck at the wire for his second graded stakes tally.
Avie's Flatter (far right) on his way to winning the Connaught Cup Stakes at Woodbine
The bay stopped the clock in 1:20.99 for the seven furlongs and returned $5.60 to win.
Olympic Runner settled for second while fellow Mark Casse trainee Proven Strategies finished 2 1/4 lengths back in third over Gray's Fable and Silent Poet. Chuck Willis, Tap It to Win and Eskiminzin completed the order of finish. Holiday Stone was scratched.
"I got a great trip. He broke really sharp and I just wanted to sit behind the speed, and he was just dragging me the whole way," said Contreras, who also partnered with Avie's Flatter for his allowance optional claimer win last month. "A win is a win and he runs good whatever the surface is."
"That's what's really nice about him—we do have those options," said Carroll in reference to her trainee's proven talent on both surfaces. "I think we'll just see how things develop and try and place him in the best spots we can."
Named Canada's champion 2-year-old male in 2018, Avie's Flatter placed in all three legs of the OLG Canadian Triple Crown the following year, including runner-up finishes in the Queen's Plate and Prince of Wales Stakes. Earlier that season, he crossed the border into the U.S. to record his first graded stakes win, the Kentucky Utilities Transylvania Stakes (G3T) at Keeneland. Last year, in an abbreviated 4-year-old campaign, Avie's Flatter ran second in the Eclipse Stakes (G2) and fourth in the Seagram Cup Stakes (G3).
"This is a really special horse and it's very exciting for us because he's finally come back to himself," said Carroll. "He had a bit of an off year last year and he's just a monster this year. He's so happy. We came into this race very confident but respectful of the kind of horses that were in here."
Bred by Dalos' Tall Oaks Farm, Avie's Flatter has compiled a career record reading 6-3-2 from 15 starts and has earned $778,819. He is out of the Empire Maker mare Avie's Empire, also dam of stakes winner Avie's Mineshaft and grade 3-placed Avie's Mesa. His second dam is E. P. Taylor Stakes (G1T) winner Fly for Avie. Avie's Empire foaled a Tapit colt in April.