Ami's Flatter starting over in featured allowance
In a figurative sense, Ami’s Flatter was a casualty of the 2015 Triple Crown chase. Compromised by a demanding early-season campaign, the colt had little left by the time the Queen’s Plate rolled around in early July, and trainer Josie Carroll decided afterward to call it a year.
Some six months later, Ami’s Flatter essentially will be starting anew when the 4-year-old Ontario-bred goes postward Wednesday in a first-level allowance at Gulfstream Park in south Florida.
“I’m pretty excited about bringing this horse back,” Carroll said Sunday from her winter base at the Palm Meadows training center.
With Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez to ride, Ami’s Flatter will break from post 8 in a field of nine older horses in the eighth of 10 races, a $44,000 allowance at seven furlongs. First post is 12:35 p.m. Eastern, with the nominal feature set for 4:05.
Ami’s Flatter ran second in the Tampa Bay Derby and third in the Florida Derby, igniting hope that he might be good enough to make the Kentucky Derby. But Carroll and owner Ivan Dalos ultimately decided to focus instead on the Queen’s Plate, to no avail. Ami’s Flatter was a dull eighth as the 4-1 third choice in Canada’s premier race.
“He’d run really hard and wasn’t quite ready for the Derby,” said Carroll. “He had gotten himself knocked out, really. Eventually, he was diagnosed with a little bruising in a cannon bone, so we gave him a few months off. He’s come back really strong.”
Ami’s Flatter has had seven recorded workouts since late November at Palm Meadows and figures to take some beating in a lineup that also counts Juan and Bina, Borseggiatore, and Muntij as contenders.
Key contenders
Ami’s Flatter (Last 3 Beyers: 59-77-88)
* Two solid finishes in as many tries over the Gulfstream main surface bode well for his comeback as his Florida Derby showing was preceded by a sharp runner-up try in the Mucho Macho Man Stakes last January in just his second career start.
Juan and Bina (Last 3 Beyers: 60-83-83)
* Bay colt tends to bring home a check and can be forgiven for his last outing as he now returns to the proper class level and gets top rider Javier Castellano.
Borseggiatore (Last 3 Beyers: 74-83-82)
* Lone 5-year-old in the field already has won twice in three tries since being claimed in September by ascending trainer Joe Sharp for Ken and Sarah Ramsey.
Muntij (Last 3 Beyers: 80-73-80)
* Easy winner of a conditioned claimer last month at Gulfstream gets tested on the raise while making his first start for Mike Tomlinson, who shows above-average percentages in most categories that apply here.