Photo By: Pat Lang

Cat Shaker pulls off the upset in the Rushaway Stakes at Turfway Park, scoring at 38-1 with Joe Bravo aboard

On a cloudy day and a muddy track Saturday at Turfway Park, the unheralded Todd Pletcher trained Flower Alley put on quite a display to take the Lane's End Stakes. Ridden by Jorge Chavez, Flower Alley came into the Lane's End off a maiden victory at Gulfstream Park. He won the 1 1/8 mile event in 1:50.33.

Sent off at 10-1, the eighth choice in the field of nine, Flower Alley broke alertly, settling just off the lead of the 2-1 favorite Spanish Chestnut, ridden by Gary Stevens. Chavez allowed his mount to drop back somewhat on the backstretch and into the second turn, where he was in fifth but in the clear. As Chavez made his move nearing the stretch, he had to steady briefly behind Magna Graduate, who had angled to the inside just in front of Flower Alley. Once Chavez got in the clear, however, the son of Distorted Humor quickly closed ground on Mr Sword, who had inherited the lead from Spanish Chestnut, but was weakening noticably in deep stretch. Flower Alley roared past to hit the finish line in front of Wild Desert, who has closed from last at the half mile mark, in second. Mr Sword stayed on for the show spot, another two lengths back. The stewards quickly disallowed an objection from the connections of the runner-up for interference in the upper stretch.

Magna Graduate was fourth, followed by Andromeda's Hero, Spanish Chestnut, Mayan King, Diamond Isle and Texcess.

Flower Alley will be pointed to the Arkansas Derby (gr. II) or Toyota Blue Grass (gr. I) April 16, with the Coolmore Lexington (gr. II) a week later at Keeneland also a possibility, Pletcher said.

"We are on a tight schedule now," Pletcher said. "I think the Arkansas Derby or Blue Grass will be next."

Patrick Biancone, trainer of Spanish Chestnut, said he is going a different direction with his colt.

"Nothing happened, really. He just didn't stay. He was attacked early, and it was just a little too far for him. We are going to go another program with him," Biancone said.

Saturday's victory was worth $300,000 for owner Eugene Melnyk. Flower Alley paid $22.40, $11.80 and $7.80 to win. Wild Desert returned $8.00 and $5.60. Mr Sword paid $8.00 to show. The $2 exacta was worth $179.60.

On the Lane's End undercard, the 2-5 favorite Proud Accolade didn't handle the off track near as well as his stablemate, Flower Alley, in the Turfway feature. Proud Accolade wound up sixth, beaten over 12 lengths, by 38-1 outsider Cat Shaker.

Cat Shaker is trained by Craig Callis, who has had his license for just six months. "I knew he had it in him," said Callis. "Joe Bravo (jockey) did what I asked him to do. He waited until the three-eighths (pole) to make his move. The last couple of races he moved at the half mile pole and was out of gas. Today Joe got him to relax down the backstretch. We'll run next in the Lexington (at Keeneland April 23). I feel very fortunate. I'm a bit surprised we beat Proud Accolade."

Cat Shaker had only won once in his previous eight starts, and was fifth in his most recent start, the Battaglia Memorial March 5th here at Turfway.

His half-length win came at the expense of Daddy Joe, who like the Lane's End third place finisher Mr Sword, is trained by Jennifer Pedersen. Daddy Joe was 6 3/4 lengths clear of the show horse, Catch Me.

Of Proud Accolade, trainer Todd Pletcher said, "He looked like he didn't like the dirt in his face or the off going. "He never really got in his rhythm."

With the big favorite finishing out of the money, the show prices were fairly generous. Cat Shaker, who is not nominated to the Kentucky Derby, paid $79.80, $33.40 and $20.60. Daddy Joe returned $14.40 and $14.80, completing an IRS exacta of $887. Catch Me paid $7.60 to show.

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