Avie's Flatter wins Transylvania, confirms status as leading Queen's Plate contender
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Josie Carroll really thought about trying Avie’s Flatter on the Kentucky Derby trail, but something told the trainer to proceed with caution. Her discretion paid dividends Friday when the Ontario-bred colt stormed to victory in the 31st running of the Grade 3, $150,000 Transylvania Stakes on the Keeneland turf.
The triumph furthers the stature of Avie’s Flatter, a finalist for a 2018 Sovereign Award in the 2-year-old division, toward the June 29 Queen’s Plate, to be run over the Woodbine synthetic.
Giving Javier Castellano his second winning stakes ride in as many days here, Avie’s Flatter sat a comfortable trip in midpack in the 1 1/16-mile race. After turning for home, Avie’s Flatter surged past the front-running Onthewaytonevrland before holding off a late run by the favored Henley’s Joy to prevail by a half-length.
Avie’s Flatter returned $10 after finishing in 1:42.86 over firm going. Henley’s Joy, the 5-2 choice, was another half-length before The Black Album in the field of eight 3-year-olds. War Film was fourth, and Onthewaytonevrland faded to fifth.
Carroll said earlier this week she wasn’t quite satisfied with the way Avie’s Flatter had breezed over the dirt at Palm Meadows, but in his works over the turf at the Florida training center, “we could hardly get him pulled up.” Thus, her decision to bypass any Derby preps and wait instead for the Transylvania.
Avie’s Flatter had shown himself as a classy colt at 2, winning a pair of restricted stakes at Woodbine – one on turf and one on Tapeta. The colt now has five starts, none on dirt.
“We’ve thought this horse to be pretty special from the beginning,” said Carroll. “Mr. Dalos breeds a really good horse.”
The 2018 Sovereign Awards will be presented April 18.
Carroll said she would consider the Grade 2 American Turf on the May 4 Kentucky Derby undercard as a bridge toward the Queen’s Plate.
The $2 exacta (4-10) paid $43, the $1 trifecta (4-10-1) returned $93.60, and the 10-cent superfecta (4-10-1-8) was worth $74.22.
Henley’s Joy was the exception, not the rule, on an afternoon when favorites won eight of the 10 races. Among those heavily bet winners were:
– Lady Pauline ($2.60), a 2-year-old half-sister to Lady Aurelia, who won by 9 3/4 lengths at first asking.
– Environs ($3.60), a 4-year-old Juddmonte Farms homebred making an impressive U.S. debut in a turf allowance for Chad Brown.
– Del Mar May ($3), an easy maiden winner exiting a pair of graded stakes in Southern California.
– Intrepid Heart ($5), a pricey Tapit colt who ran his career mark to 2 for 2 for Todd Pletcher in winning a two-turn allowance for 3-year-olds.
Attendance on a cloudy, chilly day was 14,187.
Racing resumes Saturday at 1:05 p.m. Eastern with the richest card of the 16-day spring meet. Five stakes are on tap, led by the $1 million Blue Grass Stakes.
