Salvator Mile

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Travers S. (G1) winner FLOWER ALLEY (Distorted Humor), unraced since

finishing second to Horse of the Year Saint Liam in the Breeders' Cup Classic

(G1), will make his 2006 debut in Saturday's $150,000 Salvator Mile H. (G3) at

Monmouth Park.

Trainer Todd Pletcher is using the one-mile event as a prep before tackling more

serious competition, and Flower Alley should win easily.

Stranger things have happened, but we won't go against one of the best horses

in the handicap division. There isn't much depth at the top, and Flower Alley's

connections have serious aspirations of winning this year's Classic and Horse of

the Year title. The chestnut followed a maiden score at Gulfstream last February

with a victory in the Lane's End S. (G2) at Turfway Park, but he didn't come on

until the summer when recording impressive tallies in the Jim Dandy S. (G2) and

Travers. Following a disappointing fourth in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1), Flower Alley

rebounded with a career best at Belmont Park, earning a 118 BRIS Speed rating

when falling short by a length to Saint Liam. Flower Alley can show speed or

rate, and his works indicate readiness. We love his chances, but so will

everybody else.

GOLD AND ROSES (Gold Token) will offer the opportunity for a little value in

the exotics. The New York-bred will likely be the fifth choice in the small

field, but he enters this event in sharp form and has shown that he can finish,

registering BRIS Late Pace numbers of 112 and 101 in his recent starts. Trained

by Tom Bush, the four-year-old gelding is a confirmed miler (5-4-0-1) and could

pick up the pieces for second as the other speed gives way after being

overwhelmed by the favorite.

CHEROKEE'S BOY (Citidancer) is dangerous with his speed and wired last year's

Salvator Mile, earning a 104 Speed rating for a good-looking 1 1/4-length

decision. He faltered when stretching out to 1 1/16 miles for the Brandywine S.

last time at Delaware Park, but the Gary Capuano trainee runs better at Monmouth

and will be making his third start off a layoff. Nobody will be surprised to see

him hold for the place.

PARK AVENUE BALL (Citidancer) ran away with last year's Long Branch Breeders'

Cup S. (G3) and finished a respectable third in the Haskell Invitational H.

(G1), so his affinity for the surface is a plus. He ran well last time when

winning the Frisk Me Now S. wire to wire, and the New Jersey-bred is capable of

grabbing second. NETWORK (Pulpit) will be far back during the early stages and

has fared well at Monmouth (4-2-2-0). He's impossible to eliminate from

consideration for runner-up honors.