Ami’s Flatter wins Commonwealth, Undrafted mows down rivals in Shakertown

Ivan Dalos’ Ami’s Flatter launched his move on the far turn and drew away to a 2 ¾-length decision in Saturday’s $250,000 Commonwealth (G3) at Keeneland. Third in last year’s Florida Derby (G1) and second in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2), the 4-year-old son of Flatter registered his first stakes victory and improved his career record to 10-3-2-1, with earnings of $417,834.

Trained by Josie Carroll and ridden by Martin Garcia, Ami’s Flatter completed 7-furlongs in 1:21.66.

The Ontario-bred headed to the sidelines last year after an unplaced effort in the Queen’s Plate at Woodbine in early July. Ami’s Flatter opened 2016 with a four-length score in a Gulfstream allowance and rebounded from a fourth-place effort as the 6-5 favorite in the Fred Hooper (G3) on February 6.

Ready for Rye got up late for second in a three-horse photo, a head better than 3-1 favorite and pacesetter Holy Boss. It was another head back to Barbados in fourth.

Ami’s Flatter left the starting gate as the 4-1 third choice among 10 rivals. The $500,000 Churchill Downs (G2) at 7-furlongs on the May 7 Kentucky Derby undercard is a logical option for the bay colt. Bred by Tall Oaks Farm, Ami’s Flatter is the third stakes winner from the Victory Gallop mare Galloping Ami.

Wes Walker & Sol Kumin’s Undrafted closed dramatically down the middle of the course to deny defending champion Something Extra in the $200,000 Shakertown (G2). Last seen finishing fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) at Keeneland in late October, the Wesley Ward-trained gelding scored by a half-length under Joe Bravo, who also captured the Madison (G1) one race later aboard Sheer Drama.

Undrafted, a 6-year-old son of Purim, registered his third stakes victory. He captured the 2014 Jaipur (G3) at Belmont and last year’s Diamond Jubilee (G1) at Royal Ascot, and has also placed in 10 stakes. The chestnut improved his ledger to 23-6-3-8, $1,431,527.

Off as the 7-2 second choice among 12 Shakertown runners, Undrafted completed 5 ½ furlongs in 1:02.96 on the firm turf. He closed from ninth during the early stages, and was still eighth in upper stretch, to prove best.

Something Extra, who posted an 8-1 upset in last year’s Shakertown, was overlooked at 10-1. Rallying from just off a hot early pace, the 8-year-old gelding accelerated to a 1 ½-length lead off the far turn but could not withstand the late  surge of the winner.

It was a half-length back to the late-running Commute in third, with Summation Time finishing fourth.

Bred in Kentucky by Catesby Clay Investment LLC, Undrafted is the lone stakes victor from the French Deputy mare French Jeannette.

Photos courtesy of Keeneland/Coady Phtography