Flower Alley tops Jockey Club Gold Cup

Flower Alley will go for his third straight win while taking on the Jockey Club Gold Cup (James Crisp/Horsephotos.com)

Travers S. (G1) winner FLOWER ALLEY (Distorted Humor) highlights a field of
eight entered for Saturday’s $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Belmont
Park. The
three-time stakes winner will make his first start against older horses and is
coupled with stablemate BISHOP COURT HILL (Holy Bull), who trainer Todd Pletcher
has entered to keep Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) winner LAVA MAN (Slew City Slew)
company on the front end.

Lava Man is one of three California invaders for the 1 1/4-mile event.
BORREGO (El Prado [Ire]) enters in top form for trainer Beau Greely, notching
his first stakes win in a grand way when taking the Pacific Classic (G1) last
out. The four-year-old colt has been in New York for several weeks to prepare
for the Gold Cup. Three-time Grade 2 victor IMPERIALISM (Langfuhr), winner of
the seven-furlong Pat o’ Brien Breeders’ Cup H. (G2) most recently, traveled to
Belmont Park on Thursday along with Lava Man on a flight from the West Coast.

Flower Alley showed promise early in the season when following up a maiden
score with a victory in the Lane’s End S. (G2) and finished second to Afleet
Alex (Northern Afleet) in the Arkansas Derby (G2). The chestnut colt received a
freshening following a ninth-place effort in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and
returned to the races with a runner-up placing to Roman Ruler (Fusaichi Pegasus)
in July’s Dwyer S. (G2). He easily captured the Jim Dandy (G2) by 5 1/4 lengths
and carried his form forward with a stellar 2 1/2-length triumph over Bellamy
Road (Concerto) in the Travers.