Off for five months and making his first start around two turns, I'll Have Another produced an easy upset victory at odds of 43-1 in the $200,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita Feb. 4.
Saturday, February 04, 2012
Trainer Doug O'Neill has picked a tough spot for his promising colt I'll Have Another, who returns from a five-month absence in the $200,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (gr. II) Feb. 4 at Santa Anita.
Thursday, February 02, 2012
Lilacs and Lace, who won the $400,000 Central Bank Ashland Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland April 9, gained a sibling just hours later when her dam delivered her full sister.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Favored Bouquet Booth held off Daisy Devine in deep stretch to win the $98,000 Silverbulletday Stakes by a neck at Fair Grounds Jan. 22 for her third consecutive victory.
Saturday, January 22, 2011Lilacs and Lace, under a vigorous ride by Russell Baze, collared front-running Cathy's Crunches past the 16th pole and drew off to a 1 1/2-length victory in the $92,000 California Oaks at Golden Gate Fields Jan. 1.
Saturday, January 01, 2011
It's early yet, but Bouquet Booth stamped herself as one to follow for the 2011 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) when she unleashed a late burst to capture the $500,000 Delta Downs Princess (gr. III) Nov. 20.
Saturday, November 20, 2010Flower Alley, winner of the 2005 Travers Stakes (gr. I), was represented with his first winner when his juvenile daughter, Smoke Alley, held on for a head victory in the second race at Woodbine Aug. 6.
Friday, August 06, 2010
Millionaire Flower Alley's first reported foal is a colt born Jan. 8 at Ro Parra's Millennium Farms Kentucky near Lexington.
Sunday, January 20, 2008The loss of star racehorses in training and the negative effect it has on the sport was a hot topic during a panel discussion Dec. 5 at the 33rd Symposium on Racing & Gaming in Tucson, Ariz.
Wednesday, December 06, 2006Some might question why Flower Alley is even being considered for the Breeders' Cup Classic–Powered By Dodge (gr. I). If he can return to the form that carried him to a second-place finish behind Horse of the Year Saint Liam in last year's Classic, however, he will not be a horse to overlook.
Thursday, November 02, 2006At a Nov. 2 press conference next to the Churchill Downs paddock, trainer Todd Pletcher tried to explain the logistics of starting 17 horses on Breeders' Cup World Championship day Saturday.
Thursday, November 02, 2006Bernardini, leading candidate for Horse of the Year honors, drew the three post position and was installed as the even-money favorite for Saturday's Breeders' Cup Classic -- Powered by Dodge (gr. I).
Wednesday, November 01, 2006A pair of contenders for the Breeders' Cup Classic - Powered by Dodge (gr. I), along with some of their stablemates in other World Championship races, took a tour of Churchill Downs Sunday morning.
Sunday, October 29, 2006A total of 121 Horses have been pre-entered for the Breeders' Cup World Championships. Pre-entries were due by noon Monday, and the Breeders' Cup racing directors/secretaries panel met yesterday to determine which horses would be allowed to run in the event a race was oversubscribed. The pre-entries were announced at 10 a.m. today.
Wednesday, October 25, 2006Working 14 horses in one morning is a major load for any trainer, but Todd Pletcher took that to another level Sunday when he put 14 Breeders' Cup horses through their paces with most of them turning in almost identical drills with machine-like precision.
Sunday, October 22, 2006Eugene Melnyk and Robert N. Clay have reached an agreement in principle for Melnyk Racing Stables' grade I winner Flower Alley to stand at Clay's Three Chimneys Farm in 2007.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006The main topic of conversation at Belmont Park these days is the much-awaited showdown between Bernardini and Invasor in the Oct. 7 Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I).
Monday, September 18, 2006Saratoga Race Course's first running of The Woodward (gr. I) produced what is believed to be the highest winning odds in the prestigious stake's 53-year history when 31-1 shot Premium Tap edged Second of June by a half-length Saturday.
Saturday, September 02, 2006The running of the $500,000 Woodward (gr. I) Saturday at Saratoga could turn out to be the most crucial start of the year for 2005 Travers (gr. I) champion Flower Alley. It will be the colt's first race since the death of his breeder, George Brunacini, one of 49 people who perished Sunday morning in the crash of Comair Flight 5191 in Lexington.
Thursday, August 31, 2006The "Road to the Breeders' Cup World Championships – Powered by Dodge" will present live coverage of the Woodward Stakes and Forego Handicap (both gr. I) Sept. 2 on ESPN from 4:30-5:30 p.m. (ET).
Wednesday, August 30, 2006Owner Eugene Melnyk on Monday paid tribute to the late Thoroughbred breeder George Brunacini, one of 49 victims of Sunday's crash of Comair flight 5191 in Lexington.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006Saratoga's first three weeks were marked by muggy hot weather followed by splendid cool days and nights, a card cancellation, upsets, an onslaught of New York-bred races, declining attendance, numerous mishaps at the starting gate, and soap opera politics. Will the next 18 days be as rocky as the past 17 days?
Tuesday, August 15, 2006Invasor, winner of Saturday's Whitney Handicap (gr. I) at Saratoga in a thrilling stretch drive over Sun King, is likely to make his next start in the $500,000 Woodward Stakes (gr. I) on Sept. 2.
Sunday, August 06, 2006Shadwell Stable's Invasor, nearly overtaken by the surging Sun King, dug in for the final furlong to emerge with a nose victory in $750,000 Whitney Handicap (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course Saturday.
Saturday, August 05, 2006It's hard to imagine this year's Whitney Handicap (gr. I) could top the 2005 running when the speedy Commentator held off a surging future Horse of the Year in Saint Liam.
Thursday, August 03, 2006A double dose of "Road to the Breeders' Cup World Championships – Powered by Dodge" is on tap this weekend with live racing Saturday and Sunday on ESPN from 5-6 p.m. (EST).
Wednesday, August 02, 2006Melnyk Racing Stables' Flower Alley showed his class in the stretch, powering his way through a cloudburst to a 3 1/4-length victory in Saturday's $150,000 Salvator Mile Stakes (gr. III) at sloppy Monmouth Park.
Saturday, June 24, 2006Flower Alley headlines Saturday's $150,000 Salvator Mile (gr. III), the first graded stakes of Monmouth Park's 2006 season. It is the seasonal debut for the 4-year-old colt who won the 2005 Travers Stakes (gr. I) and finished second to 2005 Horse of the Year Saint Liam in the Breeders' Cup Classic - Powered by Dodge (gr. I).
Thursday, June 22, 2006Eugene Melnyk, whose racing stable is one of three finalists for an Eclipse Award as outstanding owner of 2005, has resigned his position on the New York Racing Association's board of trustees, according to a release from NYRA.
Thursday, January 05, 2006Not to take anything away from the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships, or Saint Liam's grade I victories in the winter, summer, and fall, or Giacomo's stunning upset in the Kentucky Derby (gr. I), or Lost in the Fog's remarkable cross-country odyssey, but 2005 will be remembered for the heroic deeds of Afleet Alex.
Wednesday, November 23, 2005Hurricane Run, winner of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe – Lucien Barriere (Fr-I), continues to head the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) rankings of the top racehorses of 2005 after a very extensive month of International racing that included the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships in America, Melbourne Cup in Australia, and major events in Europe and Canada.
Tuesday, November 15, 2005William K. and Suzanne Warren's Saint Liam, sent off at 2-1 odds, won a stretch duel with Flower Alley to win Saturday's $4,680,000 Breeders' Cup Classic - Powered by Dodge (gr. I).
Sunday, October 30, 2005Keeneland's November breeding stock sale will offer a wide variety of horses related to runners in the 22nd Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships Saturday, including four of the entrants themselves.
Monday, October 24, 2005Keeneland's November breeding stock sale will offer a wide variety of horses related to runners in the 22nd Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships Saturday, including four of the entrants themselves.
Monday, October 24, 2005It was a chaotic Monday morning on the Belmont work tab, with 21 Breeders' Cup horses having their final tune-ups for the World Thoroughbred Championships. And over at Aqueduct, Rick Dutrow worked his two Breeders' Cup horses, Saint Liam and Silver Train.
Monday, October 24, 2005Trainer Todd Pletcher, who broke through with his first two Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships victories last year with Ashado and Speightstown, has eight horses pre-entered this year.
Wednesday, October 19, 2005It is still too early to make final selections for the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships. Most of the important works are finished, and the majority of the mounts have been assigned. So, basically there is nothing much to do but wait for the shippers to arrive and concoct lists that may or not prove helpful.
Wednesday, October 19, 2005Trainer Todd Pletcher worked a bunch of his potential Breeders' Cup starters, including champion Ashado, at Belmont Park Monday.
Monday, October 17, 2005It was a weekend that helped shape the Breeders' Cup Classic – Powered by Dodge (gr. I), Emirates Airline Distaff (gr. I), and John Deere Turf (gr. IT). Of course, no big weekend at Belmont Park this fall would be complete without a controversy surrounding the use of pacesetters.
Wednesday, October 05, 2005West coast invader Borrego roared to the lead leaving the second turn and drew off to an impressive victory in the $1-million Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) that highlighted Saturday's Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Preview Day at Belmont Park.
Saturday, October 01, 2005With Saint Liam pretty much established as the early favorite for the Breeders' Cup Classic – Powered by Dodge (gr. I), a competitive field of eight will line up for Saturday's $1-million Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) to determine who will pose the most serious challenge to the Woodward (gr. I) and Stephen Foster (gr. I) winner.
Thursday, September 29, 2005With Saint Liam established as the early favorite for the Breeders' Cup Classic - Powered by Dodge (gr. I), a competitive field of eight will line up for Saturday's $1-million Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) to determine who will pose the most serious challenge to the Woodward (gr. I) and Stephen Foster (gr. I) winner.
Thursday, September 29, 2005Close inbreeding is a tricky proposition, able to concentrate bad traits of the inbred ancestor as well as good ones. For this reason, it is often avoided by breeders.
Wednesday, September 28, 2005Attendance dipped slightly and overall handle was also off for the 36-day season at Saratoga Race Course that ended Sept. 5.
Monday, September 05, 2005Sure, you can look at the 136th running of the Travers Stakes (gr. I) as just another day at the office for the high-powered firm of Pletcher and Velazquez, Inc. But to many of the people close to the victorious Flower Alley, this one was personal.
Wednesday, August 31, 2005With the majority of the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships races beginning to sort themselves out, it looks as if this year's events for the most part are going to be wide-open races, with no standout. And that means Horse of the Year also is still very much up for grabs.
Tuesday, August 30, 2005Still enjoying the thrill of his Travers (gr. I) victory with Flower Alley, trainer Todd Pletcher has mapped out the colt's next two starts: The $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) on Oct. 1 and the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic, Powered by Dodge (gr. I) Oct. 29, both at Belmont Park.
Sunday, August 28, 2005Flower Alley overtook a sharp Bellamy Road approaching the eighth pole and edged away to win Saturday's $1 million Travers (gr. I) and give the dominating duo of trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey John Velazquez a first victory in the Midsummer Derby.
Saturday, August 27, 2005Despite the absence of this year's two classic winners, Giacomo and Afleet Alex, Saturday's $1-million Travers Stakes (gr. I) drew a talented and competitive field of seven today, headed by Haskell Invitational (gr. I) winner Roman Ruler and Jim Dandy (gr. II) winner Flower Alley.
Wednesday, August 24, 2005Flower Alley and Reverberate, the respective first- and second-place finishers in the Jim Dandy Stakes (gr. II), worked at Saratoga Monday in preparation for Saturday's Travers Stakes (gr. I).
Monday, August 22, 2005