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Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind
That was one comically bad ride Flower Alley got in that Derby.
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He didn't get a great one in the Arkansas Derby that year either. It probably wouldn't have mattered because Afleet Alex was much the best that day, but Flower Alley broke from something like the 4 or 5 post in a ten-horse field, but somehow ended up widest of all going into the first turn. He raced wide chasing the pace all the way around the track, and made a strong move to get the lead briefly on the 2nd turn before AA flew by him. He then held off the rest of the field for a second place finish that was a lot more impressive than his huge margin of defeat to AA would indicate.
I remember liking him in the Derby that year off of his performance at Oaklawn along with High Limit, High Fly, and Bandini. Needless to say....I didn't cash.
In retrospect, with the trips Flower Alley got that spring, it isn't that surprising that he had such a strong summer/fall campaign later that year.