Dalos homebreds finish one-two in My Dear Stakes
TORONTO, July 16, 2022 – Collecting Flatter felt the heat and came out a cool winner in an Ivan Dalos Exacta sweep of Saturday’s $125,000 My Dear Stakes at Woodbine Racetrack.
A compact group of five two-year-old fillies battled over 5 ½ furlongs on the Woodbine Tapeta.
Sent off as the public’s top choice on a competitive odds board, Collecting Flatter charged out to the early lead with pesky Speedy River to her outside. The fillies, both bred and owned by Ivan Dalos, would sit one-two throughout to deliver an entertaining battle.
Rounding the turn, Collecting Flatter appeared to create separation on Speedy River, but that would change at the head of the lane, as Speedy River battled up to even terms and appeared to take a slight advantage. However, Collecting Flatter showed plenty of determination to fight back and draw off late for near two length victory in 1:05.22.
Kazushi Kimura rode Collecting Flatter for trainer Josie Carroll, who picked up her third win of the afternoon.
Owner Dalos was in attendance Saturday to watch his fillies run one-two in the My Dear.
“My dad has come to the races for the first time since Covid and I think he was the good luck charm here today,” said Colleen Dalos, General Manger of Dalos’ Tall Oaks Farm. “We usually don’t like to race against ourselves, but we had no choice but to put them in since we have so many beautiful two-year-olds.
“We cheer for them equally and we gave them the same instructions, it was fabulous to see them duelling it out, but truthfully in the end we own the mare Recollect and we’re always trying to improve on the percentages for our mares, so I had a slight edge, but just so happy to have them one-two.”
A daughter of Flatter, Collecting Flatter is now two for two to begin her career. Her debut victory came back on June 25 and was also a game effort.
After the Dalos fillies finished one-two, Damaso and State of Mind completed the top-four finishers.
Collecting Flatter returned $5.80 to win, while a $2 Exacta with the Dalos’ youngsters returned $21.
Live racing continues Sunday afternoon at Woodbine. The $125,000 Victoria Stakes is the feature race on a ten-race program. Post time is 1 p.m.
Mark McKelvie