The promising Flightline, trained by John Sadler, is owned by West Point in partnership with Hronis Racing, Siena Farm, Summer Wind Equine and Woodford Racing.
Expected to make his next start in next Saturday's Grade 1, $1 million Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park, the speedy son of Tapit has won all three of his starts by a combined 37 1/2 lengths. Most recently Flightline recorded a 118 Beyer Speed Figure with an 11 1/2 length win in the Grade 1 Malibu on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita.
A competitive Met Mile field includes Grade 1 winners Speaker's Corner, who registered a 114 Beyer in the G1 Carter, and last year's G1 Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Aloha West.
“Mentally, we think he's advanced quite a bit. He's a lot more settled in his work and he's such an exciting horse,” said West Point's Terry Finley. “We hope everything stays on track. Obviously, those two horses will be the best horses he's run against to date, so it'll be a step up. We'll see what happens on the racetrack. We got all our hopes riding on the big horse.”
Aloha West recorded his final workout for the Met Mile at Churchill Downs on Friday morning, speeding five furlongs in 58.60 seconds.
“That's not with company or sticking him,” trainer Wayne Catalano told the Daily Racing Form. “That's pretty damn good.”
The 5-year-old son of Hard Spun began his 2022 campaign with a third-place finish behind Jackie's Warrior and Reinvestment Risk in the G1 Churchill Downs on May 7.
The post ‘All Our Hopes Riding On The Big Horse’: Flightline On Track For Big Test In Met Mile appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
