Avie's Flatter holds off Olympic Runner in Connaught Cup
ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Favored Avie’s Flatter beat a quality field under Luis Contreras in Sunday’s Grade 2, $197,050 Connaught Cup Stakes at Woodbine Sunday.
Avie’s Flatter ($5.60) assumed a stalking position along the inside in the seven-furlong turf sprint, as Silent Poet and Chuck Willis dueled through moderate fractions.
Avie’s Flatter came outside the leaders entering the stretch. He hit the front approaching the eighth pole, and then opened up a daylight lead before holding off Olympic Runner to win by a neck, in a time of 1:20.99.
“I had a great trip,” Contreras said. “He broke really sharp, and I just wanted to sit behind the speed. He was just dragging me the whole way.”
Avie’s Flatter, Canada’s champion 2-year-old in 2018, earned $126,000 for owner Ivan Dalos and trainer Josie Carroll.
“This is a really special horse, and it’s very exiting for us because he’s finally come back to himself,” Carroll said. “He had a bit of an off year last year. He’s just a monster this year. He’s so happy.”
Proven Strategies finished third, and was followed by Gray’s Fable, Silent Poet, Chuck Willis, Tap It to Win, and Eskiminzin. Holiday Stone was scratched.