Wilgerbosdrift’s successful sire Flower Alley is best known as the sire of US champion and Kentucky Derby/Preakness Stakes winner I’ll Have Another.
He is also, however, an extremely successful “turf” sire, with Flower Alley having already produced numerous high class stakes winners who fared best on the grass.
Two of the sire’s four G1 winners have come on turf, with son Bullards Alley scoring a stunning 10.75 length win in the 2017 G1 Pattison Canadian International (on turf). In that contest, Bullards Alley accounted for turf graded/group winners Oscar Nominated, Flamboyant, Idaho, Erupt, Chemical Charge, Enterprising, Postulation, Messi and Johnny Bear.
Bullards Alley will be aiming for his third turf graded victory when he lines up in the G2 Dixiana Elkhorn Stakes at Keeneland on Saturday.
Other notable turf features captured by the progeny of Flower Alley include the G1 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap, G2 Sky Classic Stakes, and G3 Louisville Handicap.
Flower Alley is also broodmare sire of Japanese champion Lucky Lilac, who has scored her biggest victories thus far on turf. An unbeaten G1 winner at two, Lucky Lilac recently finished second in the G1 Oka Sho (on turf) –the Japanese 1000 Guineas.
Currently, Flower Alley is higher up on the 2018 Blood-Horse Turf Sires List than such proven G1 turf sires as Northern Afleet, Myboycharlie, Exchange Rate, and Street Cry.
Flower Alley’s success on turf comes as no surprise. His champion sire Distorted Humor is responsible for a number of high class turf performers, notably the G1 winners Boisterous, Pathfork, Aesop’s Fables, Cursory Glance, Rinky Dink, Bit Of Whimsy and Fourty Niners Son.
Flower Alley is a half-brother to the Japanese G1 winners Tosen Ra and Spielberg, both of whom won at the highest level on the grass.
His first three dams are by Lycius, Sadler’s Wells and Vaguely Noble-all major winners on grass, with Flower Alley’s notable relatives including outstanding sire (on turf) Lyphard.
Flower Alley’s accomplished turf gallopers include:
LUKES ALLEY (10c, A.P. Indy, Dehere). Champion Older Male in Canada in 2014.9 wins from 8½f to 1¼m to 2017, US$795,122, Gulfstream Park Turf H., Gr.1
BULLARDS ALLEY (12g, Kris S, Mr. Prospector). 6 wins from 1m to 1½m to 2017, US$927,789, Woodbine Canadian International S., Gr.1, Churchill Downs Louisville H., Gr.3, 2d Kentucky Turf Cup, Gr.3, Woodbine Singspiel S., Gr.3
KARIBU GARDENS (10c, Kris S, Mr. Prospector). 6 wins from 8¼f to 1¼m, US$298,779, Woodbine Sky Classic S., Gr.2, 3rd Tampa Bay S., Gr.3.
FLOWER LADY (10f, Summer Squall, Little Current). 5 wins from 6½f to 8½f, Louisiana Cup Distaff S., L
FIRESPIKE (12c, Dixieland Band, Halo). 7 wins-2 at 2-from 7½f to 8½f to 2017, US$332,718, Gulfstream Park West Juvenile Turf S., L
AWESOME FLOWER (09f, Awesome Again, Notebook). 11 wins from 5½f to 8½f, US$556,593, L, 3d Gulfstream Park Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf S., L.
ZUCCHINI FLOWER (09f, Silver Buck, Seattle Dancer). 4 wins from 1m to 8½f, US$248,665, 2nd Twin Light S., L, 3rd Dahlia S., L,
BOUQUET BOOTH (08f, Loup Sauvage, Topsider). 4 wins-2 at 2-from 6f to 8¼f, US$527,279, L, 3d Churchill Downs Regret S., Gr.3,
Nessy (13c, Kris S, Mr. Prospector). 2 wins at 11f, 1½m to 2017, US$240,420, 2d Gulfstream Park WL McKnight H.Gr.3, Keeneland Sycamore S., Gr.3 3d Gulfstream Park Mac Diarmida S., Gr.2.
Flower Fashion (14f, Kendor, Dayjur), 2 wins at 8f, 9.5f, 2nd Prix Volterra., L.
Crescent Drive (13c, Pulpit, Tabasco Cat), 3 wins, 3rd Texas Heritage Stakes., L.
Aalsmeer (11g, Dixie Union, Storm Cat). 6 wins at 6f, 3d Santa Rosa Jess Jackson Owners’ H., L.
Black Bird Rock (09f, Bertrando, Storm Cat). 8 wins from 6½f to 8½f, US$487,078, Woodbine Allowance, 3d Woodbine Wonder Where S., L, Carotene S., L,