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ROAD TO THE TRIPLE CROWN MARCH 30, 2005 by James Scully FLOWER ALLEY (Distorted Humor) entered Saturday's Lane's End S. (G2) with only a narrow maiden victory at Gulfstream Park to his credit and exited the $500,000 event as a three-year-old with a bright future. The Todd Pletcher-trained colt still exhibited signs of greenness, racing in and out of spots through the 1 1/8-mile contest, but he leveled out after being steered to the outside for the stretch run and drove to a half-length victory under Jorge Chavez. The chestnut colt will be on a tight schedule over the next six weeks, with a final prep for the Kentucky Derby (G1) in either the Blue Grass (G1) or Arkansas Derby (G2), both on April 16, and he would own only four lifetime starts prior to the Run for the Roses. That may not be enough experience to win the Kentucky Derby, but Flower Alley is a dangerous new player in the three-year-old division. He didn't have the best of trips, pressing the pace for the opening three-eighths before beginning to drop back in the field, and continued his advance and retreat tactics on the backstretch and into the far turn. Steadied briefly along the inside approaching the top of the stretch, Flower Alley accelerated impressively when clear, overhauling MR SWORD (Rizzi) in deep stretch to win going away over the muddy track. Flower Alley didn't earn a triple-digit BRIS Speed rating (98) and didn't appear to beat top competition, but don't look for him to be a one-hit wonder like last year's Lane's End winner Sinister G (Matty G). Pletcher spoke glowingly about the colt's ability prior to the Lane's End, and Flower Alley still has plenty of maturing left to do. He'll keep getting better with more experience. WILD DESERT (Wild Rush) closed for second while never a threat to the winner, and third-place finisher Mr Sword, who received a questionable ride from Norberto Arroyo Jr., ran out of gas in midstretch. Arroyo gunned the improving colt to the front entering the far turn and quickly opened up a large advantage. His premature actions left Mr Sword empty for the stretch run. ANDROMEDA'S HERO (Fusaichi Pegasus) turned in a disappointing effort to be fifth. He didn't have to win, but the late-running colt was in position to at least grab third in midstretch and failed to produce a decent rally. The Nick Zito trainee may not have cared for the wet track, but he'll need to improve significantly in his final prep to earn his way to Kentucky Derby. SPANISH CHESTNUT (Horse Chestnut [SAf]), the 2-1 favorite, led the way early before faltering and is better suited to shorter distances presently. Godolphin had the overwhelming favorite for Saturday's $2 million U.A.E. Derby (UAE-G1) and their royal blue silks shone in a brilliant performance that will propel the winner to the Kentucky Derby. However, it wasn't the Godolphin horse everybody expected. BLUES AND ROYALS (Honour and Glory) overshadowed stablemate SHAMARDAL (Giant's Causeway), who was voted champion two-year-old in Europe, with a resounding 12-length score. Following a non-descript three-race juvenile campaign, Blues and Royals brought low expectations into his sophomore bow, but a surface switch to dirt was what he needed to find his best form. If Godolphin would ship to the United States for an April prep race, the Saeed bin Suroor charge would merit serious respect for the Kentucky Derby. But Godolphin decided long ago that they wanted to win the Kentucky Derby off a March start in the desert, essentially committing themselves to failure. Their unwillingness to adapt is almost comical because it's strictly a pride issue. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, the driving force behind World Cup Day, expressed his desire to win the Kentucky Derby off a race (U.A.E. Derby) on his showcase program more than a decade ago when his stable was primarily involved in turf racing. That was his prerogative at the time, but it hasn't worked out because dirt racing is different from turf. Horses need races to prepare them for the grueling task of the Kentucky Derby. A fresh horse is undesirable, and that's why every winner in the last 50 years has competed in an April prep race. Godolphin could easily adapt their program to give themselves the best opportunity to capture one of the world's biggest races. Instead, it's more important for Sheikh Mohammed to be right than it is to win the Kentucky Derby. Shamardal faded badly in upper stretch to ninth, beaten more than 45 lengths, but he could still make the Kentucky Derby, according to spokesman Simon Crisford. The April 23 Lexington S. (G2) would be the perfect spot to give the colt another try on the dirt beforehand, but that sensible option probably won't be contemplated. The final round of prep races for top Kentucky Derby contenders gets underway this weekend with Saturday's $1 million Florida Derby (G1), which has been re-scheduled this year from March to April. The nine-furlong contest is expected to include HIGH FLY (Atticus), BANDINI (Fusaichi Pegasus), NOBLE CAUSEWAY (Giant's Causeway), PAPI CHULLO (Comeonmom), B.B. BEST (Yes It's True) and CLOSING ARGUMENT (Successful Appeal).
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