Melnyk Racing Stables’ FLOWER ALLEY (Distorted Humor) and jockey John
Velazquez positioned themselves on the rail during Saturday’s $490,000
Jim Dandy
S. (G2) at Saratoga and rode the inside all the way to the finish line. Sent off
the 1-2 choice, the Todd Pletcher trainee paid $3, $2.40 and $2.10 to his backers
while keying the $10 exacta.
“I think the plan worked out the way we hoped it would,” Pletcher said. “We
decided after the Kentucky Derby (G1) to freshen this horse. We kicked around
the Preakness (G1) and the Belmont (G1), but we just thought that he had come so
far so fast, that the right thing to do was back away. Physically, he’s done
very well; mentally, he’s still getting there. Right now, he is doing this on
natural talent.”
Mr. Congeniality (Chester House) moved to the front just on the outside of
Flower Alley to set the opening quarter in :23 4/5. He couldn’t hold off his
inside rival, though, and started moving backward as Flower Alley got the
half-mile in :47 1/5. After three-quarters in 1:11 2/5, the eventual winner found a
new challenge in Reverberate (Thunder Gulch) as the field strung out exiting the
turn. Settled down for the drive by Velazquez, who completed the stakes double
after winning the Diana two races earlier, Flower Alley finished the
nine-furlong fast track test in 1:49 2/5 while holding Reverberate to second by
5 1/4 lengths.
Reverberate gave back $3.70 and $2.10 at 5-1 while 6 1/2 lengths ahead of
Andromeda’s Hero (Fusaichi Pegasus), who rounded out the $20.20 trifecta (2-1-3)
to pay $2.10. King of Jazz (K One King) was a distant fourth, another 23 1/4 lengths back, while Mr. Congeniality rounded out the order of finish. Noble Causeway (Giant’s
Causeway) was withdrawn.
With this win, Flower Alley moved his earnings to $851,660 from a 7-3-2-1
career mark, including a victory in the Lane’s End S. (G2) from late March as
well as placings in the Arkansas Derby (G2) and Dwyer S. (G2). Bred in Kentucky
by George Brunacini & Bona Terra Farms, the three-year-old chestnut brought
$50,000 as a Keeneland November weanling before selling to his current
connections for $165,000 at the 2003 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
Flower Alley is the second registered foal out of the winning Princess Olivia
(Lycius), who also has an unnamed juvenile colt by Black Minnaloushe and an
unnamed yearling filly by Victory Gallop.
Pletcher is planning on sending Flower Alley to the Travers S. (G1) on August
27 for his next one.
“We circled the program that would culminate in the Travers,” Pletcher said.
“With the Jim Dandy four weeks before the Travers, hopefully, that plays into
our favor.”