Flower Alley to run in BC Classic

Poor horse....

The 4-year-old season has been a disappointment for Melnyk Racing Stable's Flower Alley, but the runner-up in last year's Breeders' Cup Classic powered by Dodge (Grade I) will have the opportunity to wipe out a couple of disappointing efforts as he will make another bid for America's richest race in the 23rd renewal of the Breeders' Cup World Championships on Nov. 4 at Churchill Downs.
The Todd Pletcher-trained son of Distorted Humor galloped 1 ¼-miles over a "fast" surface on Monday at Churchill Downs, just one day after he breezed five furlongs in 1:01.80 over the same footing under the historic Twin Spires. Exercise rider Justin Curran was aboard for Sunday's move, which ranked third among 23 works at the distance.
Assistant trainer Mike McCarthy said that Flower Alley, who is coming off of disappointing seventh-place runs at Saratoga behind Invasor in the Whitney (GI) and Premium Tap in the Woodward (GI), is doing well at Pletcher's barn at Churchill Downs, which will host the Breeders' Cup for a record sixth time. While most horses take a day or two off following a breeze, McCarthy said it's not uncommon for Flower Alley to head back to the track on the morning after a serious training move.
"It's normal with him," said McCarthy. "He's a horse that takes a lot of training and carries quite a bit of condition. We're very happy with him. He's a great horse to be around and has a wonderful disposition. He's got a real presence about him."
Flower Alley finished just a length behind eventual "Horse of the Year" Saint Liam in last year's Classic, but did not make his 2006 debut until June 24, when he romped to an easy victory in the Salvator Mile (GIII) at Monmouth Park. His only subsequent efforts came in the losses at Saratoga, both of which saw Flower Alley go off as the post time favorite.
"It's been very frustrating," said McCarthy. "When we got him back in April we thought this was going to be his year. But things didn't quite pan out for him."
But, of course, the memory of those poor efforts could be wiped away by another big effort in the Classic against the likes of Preakness (GI) and Jockey Club Gold Cup (GI) winner Bernardini, West coast superstar Lava Man and European stars George Washington and David Junior.
McCarthy said that Flower Alley would likely continue on a Sunday work schedule, with two breezes scheduled before his run in the Classic.
Flower Alley will bring a career record of 5-3-1 in 13 races with earnings of $2,533,910 into the Classic. His only previous race at Churchill Downs was a ninth-place finish behind Giacomo in the 2005 Kentucky Derby.