Flower Alley points to Salvator Mile

Flower Alley, winner of last year's Jim Dandy and Travers Stakes, is expected to make his return to the races in the Grade 3, $150,000 Salvator Mile on June 24 at Monmouth Park, trainer Todd Pletcher said Thursday.

Flower Alley has not run since finishing second to Saint Liam in last October's Breeders' Cup Classic. Pletcher said he is hoping to use the Salvator Mile as a prep for the Whitney on Aug. 5 at Saratoga and the Woodward on Sept. 2, also at Saratoga.

"He's getting ready to run," said Pletcher. "We need to get a start into him to set him up for the Whitney. Timing-wise it's something that makes sense."