SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- A week after the breeder of Flower Alley was killed in the crash of a Comair jet in Kentucky, the 4-year-old colt will try to win the $500,000 Woodward Stakes at Saratoga on Saturday.
Flower Alley's owner, Eugene Melnyk, is dedicating the race to breeder George Brunacini, who was among the 49 people who died in Sunday's crash at the airport in Lexington, Ky.
Jockey John Velazquez will wear a black band on his pants when he rides Flower Alley.
"This is obviously a tragedy for the horse industry with Mr. Brunacini and other people that were important in the game on that flight," Flower Alley's trainer Todd Pletcher said.
Flower Alley, winner of last year's Jim Dandy and Travers Stakes, began this season with a victory before finishing seventh in the Whitney Handicap, nine lengths behind Invasor.
Pletcher is looking for a much better effort in the 1 1-8-mile Woodward, which drew a field of 11 Thursday, including 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Funny Cide.
"He's had some good works since (the Whitney)," Pletcher said. "It's all in order now and it's up to him to step up and do it."
Also entered were Wild Desert, Papi Chullo, Suave, Naughty New Yorker, Sun King, Second of June, Premium Tap, Andromeda's Hero and Wanderin Boy. Trainer Barclay Tagg said Funny Cide will be scratched if the track is muddy.
The Woodward, formerly a fixture at Belmont Park, will be run for the first time at Saratoga and a week earlier than in the past.
"From a timing perspective, I think it's a fit towards the Jockey Club Gold Cup," Pletcher said, referring to the Oct. 7 race, a final prep before the Breeders' Cup on Nov. 4. "I like the spacing of it and it doesn't bother us that it's at Saratoga."
Zito has three horses in the Woodward -- Andromeda's Hero, Sun King and Wanderin Boy.
Sun King has run well but is having a hard time finding the winner's circle. The colt lost by a nose in the Whitney and by a head in the Met Mile.
"It would be great for him to win one of these," Zito said. "Those noses were inches. When the horses are ding-donging, you can't tell who's in front. It's just a head bob. I hope he gets a good journey."
Funny Cide, the first New York-bred to win the Derby, would be making just his second start at his hometown track. He was second in the 2004 Saratoga Breeders' Cup.
In his last race, the 6-year-old gelding won the Dominion Day handicap at Woodbine.
Also on Saturday's card is the $250,000 Forego Handicap, a seven-furlong sprint.
Eleven horses were entered, including the 5-year-old gelding Commentator, another Zito trainee coming off a win in the Mugatea Stakes in his only start this year. The field also includes Greeleys Galaxy, Spanish Chestnut and Silver Wagon.