After watching her undefeated homebred sensation Flightline (Tapit) demolish the GI TVG Pacific Classic field by 19 1/4 lengths Saturday, Jane Lyon was in just as much awe as the rest of the racing world.
“It was unbelievable,” Lyon said. “The fact that I bred him almost doesn't come into my mind. I don't take credit for any of that because I think a horse like this is a gift. After not running until a very late 3-year-old, he is just seems like he is getting better every day and more mature. He is just now coming into himself. That's not something you can plan. I am very proud of him.”
Lyon was so amazed by Flightline's latest accomplishment that she decided she simply could not part with his yearling half-brother by Curlin and withdrew the colt–who is named Eagles Flight–from next week's Keeneland September Sale.
“We will see what Flightline does in November [in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic] and I'm going to make my decisions from that point,” Lyon said. “I'm partnering already in two of my horses [out of Feathered]. I've been thinking about it and it would be hard to part with him and the [Into Mischief–Feathered] filly, if Flightline is what they say he is.”
The breeder continued, “Somebody interviewed me for a podcast, I think in Europe, and they had met [husband] Frank [Lyon] long time ago. Anyway, a question they asked me was, 'Well, after that race, what do you think Frank would have said?' I said he probably would have said why didn't you keep all of him? That really put it into focus.”
When asked if Lyon would consider partners on the Curlin colt, she said, “I have not made that decision. I need a little time. My world has just exploded since last week. I need to savor it. Everyone who has come to see this colt has been extremely positive about him. If Flightline is capable of doing what he did at Del Mar in the Breeders' Cup, I will have just as many people, if not more, interested in [the Curlin colt] after that.”
The other son of Feathered that Lyon owns in partnership is Flightline's unraced 2-year-old full-brother Olivier. The colt RNA'd for $390,000 at Fasig-Tipton's Saratoga Sale last year, after which WinStar acquired majority interest in the gray. He has been training at WinStar's training center with Rodolphe Brisset and his last breeze was at Keeneland, going five furlongs in 1:02.20.
Flightline's MGSW dam Feathered (Indian Charlie) produced an Into Mischief filly this year and was bred back to Tapit. The filly will be retained by Lyon and one day join her dam in Summer Wind's star-studded broodmare band.
“I will be keeping her as well. She's a lovely filly,” Lyon said. “She's very independent.”
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