Making his second start of the year, FLATTER’s Avie’s Flatter proved that he was back to his best in the Connaught Cup Stakes (G2).
Winning his seasonal debut by 5 ¼ lengths last out, Avie’s Flatter again put on a show in the seven furlong Connaught Cup at Woodbine on Sunday. Breaking nearly last from his rail spot on the turf, Avie’s Flatter quickly rushed up to race in third behind a pair of leaders.
Obviously eager to run, Luis Contreras kept a tight hold on his mount until they turned into the stretch. The perfect hole opened up for the 5-year-old and in only a few bounds, he had the lead. A late-running rival cut down the margin he had built but it wasn’t enough to take the victory with Avie’s Flatter a neck in front at the end.
A stakes winner in three of his four seasons on the track, the only season he didn’t win a stakes he was second in a Grade 2. Trained by Josie Carroll for Ivan Dalos, the horse now has $778,819 in earnings from six wins and five other on-the-board finishes in 15 starts.
The Tall Oaks Farm-bred is a half-brother to stakes winner Avie’s Mineshaft and the Grade 3-placed Avie’s Mesa. Their dam Avie’s Empire is out of Grade 1 winner Fly For Avie, who also produced three stakes performers. One of Avie’s Empire’s half-sisters is also the dam of FIRST SAMURAI’s Grade 3-placed Avie’s Samurai.