Grade I winner of $2,533,910 possessing immense speed, great heart, and superb looks, Flower Alley is the best son at stud by one of the world's best stallions.

Racing for Eugene Melnyk's Melnyk Racing Stables Inc., Flower Alley consistently competed at the highest levels, making ten of 14 starts in races worth at least $500,000.

A May foal, he placed in his only start at two, over six furlongs. He easily took his first start at three, a one-mile maiden special at Gulfstream, where he was tested throughout.

His next start came in the $500,000 Lane's End S.-G2, a signature prep for the Kentucky Derby. Racing over a muddy track for the first time, Flower Alley powered to the lead with 100 yards to go, despite steadying at the quarter pole. Trainer Todd Pletcher said the victory was a ³credit to his athleticism,² as well as his ability to hold his own in work-outs with champion Ashado.

Three weeks later, Flower Alley was second in the $1,000,000 Arkansas Derby-G2 to eventual three-year-old champion Afleet Alex, while earning a career best Beyer.

In the Kentucky Derby, Flower Alley got caught up in the brutal early pace, and finished a respectable ninth. In fact, Flower Alley finished higher than any runner who was first, second or third through the first three quarters of the race.

Flower Alley re-emerged July 4 in the Dwyer S.-G2 at Belmont, running a bang-up second to Roman Ruler, while posting yet another career high Beyer.

Three weeks later Flower Alley won the $500,000 Jim Dandy S.-G2 at Saratoga. Giving four to six pounds to the entire field, he took command after a half mile, and cruised home by 5 1/4 lengths. His 112 Beyer was the second best by any three-year-old beyond a mile. Afleet Alex, in the Preakness, had only matched that number.

Flower Alley went into the $1,000,000 Travers S.-G1, racing's ³Midsummer Derby² with confidence and momen-tum. Grade I winner Bellamy Road bounded to an early lead, then slowed down the pace for the half mile. Jockey John Velazquez and Flower Alley moved to challenge, forcing a testing six furlongs of 1:10.92.

Flower Alley ³was sent after the leader in earnest,² and the two battled neck and neck down the Saratoga stretch, until Flower Alley shook clear for a 2-1/2 length victory. Final time was 2:02.76, and Flower Alley earned his third consecutive Triple Digit Beyer.

Flower Alley closed out his sophomore season with a monster effort in the $4,000,000 Breeders' Cup Classic-G1. Facing nine other millionaires and six other G1 winners, Flower Alley ran second by just a length to Horse of the Year Saint Liam, whose winning time was 2:01.49. The closest three-year-old was seven lengths back.

His 111 Beyer from the Classic made him the only colt in his crop to run 110 or higher three times around two turns. Flower Alley was an Eclipse Award Finalist, and ranked second to Afleet Alex among Intermediate three-year-olds on dirt by World Thoroughbred Rankings.

After ten tough races in 11 months, Flower Alley was given time off, and came back strong in the Salvator Mile-G3 in June at Monmouth Park. Once again utilizing his superior tactical speed, Flower Alley drove to a 3 1/4 length victory in 1:35 and 4/5.

Flower Alley is the best son at stud by Distorted Humor, who has emerged as one of the world's top five sires. In just six crops, Distorted Humor has sired 64 stakes winners, including millionaire Grade I winners Funny Cide, Any Given Saturday, Hystericalady and Commentator. Distorted Humor was America's Leading Sire of stakes winners in 2006 and Leading Sire of Grade I winners in 2007. Only two stallions at stud in North America command a higher fee.

Flower Alley is from a family that features both speed and Classic influences. His dam is a half sister to a champion two-year-old; his second dam is by Sadler's Wells; his third dam is by *Vaguely Noble; and his fourth dam is a half sister to Chef de Race Lyphard.

Flower Alley is an exceptionally handsome horse with a high turn of speed, great heart, and a pedigree suited to dirt and turf. He bred full books of fine mares his first two seasons, and his first foals are yearlings of 2009.