By Christie DeBernardis
Ivan Dalos's Avie's Flatter (Flatter) is three-for-four at his hometrack of Woodbine and makes his first start south of the Canadian border Friday in Keeneland's GIII Transylvania S. A debut winner sprinting on the Woodbine synthetic Aug. 12, the Josie Carroll pupil checked in a respectable fourth after breaking poorly when switched to turf and extended to a mile for the GI Summer S. Sept. 16. A dominant victor of the grassy Cup and Saucer S. there Oct. 7, the bay captured the Coronation Futurity S. going nine panels on the synthetic when last seen Nov. 18.
Wesley Ward sends out a strong contender in Onthewaytonevrland (Ire) (No Nay Never). A second-out graduate on the Gulfstream lawn Dec. 12, the gelding missed by a neck in a Santa Anita turf sprint Feb. 10 and returned to winning ways with a decisive score in the Rushaway S. on the synthetic at Turfway Park Mar. 9.
Henley's Joy (Kitten's Joy) opened his account with a pair of turf wins last year, including the Kentucky Downs Juvenile S., and missed by just a nose in this venue's GIII Bourbon S. Victorious in the Pulpit S. on the turf at Gulfstream Dec. 8, the chestnut went down by a neck in the Kitten's Joy S. on the Hallandale lawn Jan. 5 and was a non-factor 10th when trying dirt in the GII Risen Star S. at Fair Grounds last time Feb. 16.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
