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By BEVERLEY SMITH

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Stormy Skies, Gritty Wins

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The sky looked ominous. It couldn’t decide between sunshine and rain and rainbows on Oct. 17, suddenly autumn. The winds chased the dark clouds around and the people too.

And beneath it all, French-born trainer Christophe Clements almost swept the $602,000 E.P. Taylor Stakes, winning with British-bred Mutamakina, and finishing second with La Dragontea, another British-bred filly, that stampeded down the homestretch and pressed her stablemate indeed. Mutamakina won by half a length on the yielding turf.

Mutamakina, checking out the bag her groom is carrying.

On the undercard was Woodbine Mile winner Town Cruise, cutting back in distance to the six furlongs of the $281,800 Nearctic Stakes, and staying home after all, instead of going to the Breeders Cup in California in three weeks. But alas, he lost, as Avie’s Flatter finally found his way back to the winner’s circle and became a millionaire in the process.

Trainer Josie Carroll says Avie’s Flatter is a barn favourite. She pats him after the race. “He’s my boy,” she said.
Town Cruise heads back to the barn, after having finished fifth.

And too, nudged between these stakes races was an allowance race won by Clayton, one of the Queen’s Plate favourites last year. He hadn’t raced in a year, since finishing a well-beaten fifth in the Breeders Stakes last year. But he’s back and plucky, too, winning by a head over charging Lenny K. Both trained by Kevin Attard.

Clayton wins his only race so far this year, holding off Lenny K by a nose while upstart 3-year-old Artie, winner of his two previous starts, finishes third.
The winning margin was small.
Etoile, who won the E.P.. Taylor last year, was back only two starts later and with Irad Ortiz in the irons. But she finished ninth.
Mutamakina had won the Dance Smartly at Woodbine in her previous start, but the British-bred mare went off at only 8 to 1. But she kept close tabs on the favourite, Kalifornia Queen, who set the pace, and swept by her in the stretch.
Her stablemate La Dragontea, who had won the Canadian Stakes in her previous Woodbine appearance, came from last place with a quarter of a mile to go to come within a neck of Mutamakina. She was ridden by Joel Rosario.
Mutamakina first drove past Kalifornia Queen in her drive to the wire.
But then, along came La Dragontea.
It was close.
Jockey Dylan Davis was winning the first Grade 1 of his career aboard Mutamakina.
Davis got a hug for his efforts.
Dylan, son of New York regular Robbie Davis, now in the spotlight. He sits fourth in the jockey standings at Belmont Park.
Town Cruise eventually went off as the favourite in the Nearctic, after his Woodbine Mile win. In the walking ring, he eyes up the scene.
Then sees a familiar face, his breeder, Terry Greer.
Avie’s Flatter went off at only 7 to 1, after being ninth in the Woodbine Mile and fourth in the King Edward, but he relished the switch to a sprint. And found new life.
The surprise of the race was the lesser of Mark Casse’s three-horse entry, Turned Aside, who hadn’t distinguished himself since he moved to Casse this year. A $725,000 yearling and a son of American Pharoah, Turned Aside finally found his running shoes and finished second to Avie’s Flatter by half a length. He was 17 to 1.
Momos, a newcomer to Woodbine from the Mike Trombetta Stable, set the pace and finished fourth.
Avie’s Flatter settled in fourth place, then came two to four-horses wide around the final turn, and marched right past Town Cruise, who had been pressing the pace. Town Cruise is in the yellow hood.
Avie’s Flatter is in the lead, with Turned Aside chasing him (leading Woodbine rider Kazushi Kimura aboard) while Momos is still trying to hold on at the rail.
At the wire. Olympic Runner is just starting to emerge in the photo.
Jockey Luis Contreras has had a slow season, and stands only seventh in the jockey standings. Here he could not stop smiling.
Trainer Josie Carroll and Colleen Dalos, daughter of owner-breeder Ivan Dalos, lead Avie’s Flatter to the winner’s circle.
Avie’s Flatter, triumphant.
“This is a good horse,” Josie Carroll said afterward. “From the time he was two, every year, he shows up and gets it done. We have him back sprinting now and he’s thriving on it. It’s wonderful. This horse is kind of a barn favourite so it’s very special for all of us when he wins.”
Colleen Dalos comforting and emotional Josie Carroll in the winner’s circle.
Ivan Dalos had been contemplating retiring Avei’s Flatter to stud this year after his disapointments. But Colleen persuaded him that he was in his prime, as a 5-year-old.
Contreras’s daughter, Lea, dances for him in the winner’s circle.
And gets a hug.
The Contreras family, a traditional sight in the winner’s circle when he wins.

 

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    • Beverley says

      Thanks Dave. The lighting really drove me crazy yesterday. I preferred the darkness and black clouds. When the sun came out in the post parade for the Nearctic, the colours were garish, and contrasty. It took a lot of work editing last night!!!!!!!

      Reply

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