Sadler on Flightline: ‘The History is Yet to be Written’

It's been a long time since I have been up at `dark thirty', but here I find myself happily strolling into Santa Anita Park at 4:30 in the morning–a far cry from nearly 10 years ago when I was galloping horses and would find myself running late whilst popping an Altoid and three Advil to quell the night-before activities.

But here I am. Why?

Because I asked John Sadler for a Flightline (Tapit) interview and of course, Flightline trains at 5 a.m.

After a morning of carrots, coffee, and horses, I sat down with John and posed the question: After the likes of Cost of Freedom, Lady of Shamrock, Twirling Candy, Sidney's Candy, Gift Box, Flagstaff, Higher Power, Stellar Wind and Accelerate, has Sadler trained a horse quite as simply brilliant as Flightline?

“I really haven't,” Sadler said on a lazy, uncommonly-cloudy Monday at his barn under the backdrop of the San Gabriel Mountains. “He's probably the best horse I've ever trained. He's an amazing, special kind of horse that you get once in a lifetime, and I'm thrilled to have him.”

Flightline, of course, received Beyer Speed Figures of 105, 114 and 118 over his three lifetime starts. The latter, in the GI Runhappy Malibu S., was the highest given out this year. To put that into perspective, likely Horse of the Year Knicks Go (Paynter) got a 112 Beyer in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic and Life is Good (Into Mischief) got a 109 in the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

So, what makes him so brilliant?

“He's so well-proportioned,” said Sadler. “He's powerful. He's correct. He's got everything you like. He's got that inner stallion, which I love. He's got it all.”

The sun finally began to peek across the mountains, reminding me I was up before it. I asked Sadler, “Why train him at 5 a.m.?”

“I think the track is best early,” Sadler said matter-of-factly. “It has a little more moisture in it, especially in the summer. Moisture is the key. We just think the surface is so good. So, a lot of them go in the first set. Stellar Wind loved to go in the first set. Accelerate went early. And then, they go out later when they work. I don't like to work in the dark.”

Lest one think some Sadler horses never see the light of day, never get the sun on their backs, they are all walked outside in the afternoon, something Flightline loves, Sadler said.

So much was made in the lead up to the Malibu, I asked John how he was feeling. He said he got the flu–yes, people still get that, and not just the Coronavirus.

Flightline, on the other hand, was gearing up for his final work with Flavian Prat, an odd move at the time as he had appeared hard to handle for assistant Juan Leyva in his work the week before. Holding an elephant from water comes to mind.

Flightline rolls to an 11 1/2-length victory in the 2021 GI Runhappy Malibu S. | Benoit

So, why let Prat drive the Ferrari the week before the biggest test of his young career?

“It seems Prat can turn him on and off like a switch,” said Sadler. “Yeah, that's why I put him on for his last work. You know you really must have a lot of trust to let somebody work him, and he's been on him a few times now and he gets him to relax in the morning.”

Flightline, of course, did not disappoint in the Malibu. So, what's next and who does Sadler compare him to?

“I think the comparisons come a little later as he does more. But you know, even after his first couple of races the comparables were Uncle Mo and Into Mischief. We will get some good tests down the road. At some point we will run into Todd [Pletcher]'s Life is Good, probably in the Met Mile. That will be exciting. The history is yet to be written on a lot of this.”

So, the plan right now with no hiccups, explained Sadler, “is one race to be determined before the Met Mile, then either the GI Pacific Classic S. or the GI Whitney S., then the Breeders' Cup.”

In other words, a Horse-of-the-Year campaign.

So, what kind of a personality does a potential Horse of the Year have?

“He's a bit of a live wire, you know,” said Sadler. “He's very bright. He's no deadhead. He's a very awake horse so we try to manage that. He will stand on the racetrack with the pony before he goes off and gallops. He's pretty good in the stall, but if there is a large bang, look out!”

When Flightline came out of his stall for pictures, the ever-reserved Sadler loudly exclaimed, “Look at that mother-humper. Is he not a gorgeous-looking horse?”

Flightline struck a pose; ears pricked, head up with that look of eagles. As Sadler's staff nervously looked on, he finally handed his assistant, Leyva, the shank. “Photo time is over,” he said. “Let's get him in. They are worried I will turn him loose.”

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Can Flightline Handle a Dogfight in Malibu?

Brilliant 'TDN Rising Star' Flightline (Tapit), among the most exciting horses in training or in recent memory, faces his toughest test to date in Sunday's GI Runhappy Malibu S. The $1-million FTSAUG buy turned in a debut for the ages when drubbing local foes by double digit lengths and earning a 105 Beyer Speed Figure here in April, and after overcoming a bruised foot he put up a gaudy 114 Beyer when making similarly short work of Del Mar optional claiming foes Sept. 5. The John Sadler trainee has certainly not yet faced a field as accomplished as this one, but the runner-up from his last outing Escape Route (Hard Spun) is a consistent sort who looks poised to clear his '1X' condition earlier on the card; and fourth-finisher Positivity (Paynter) bested that runner narrowly next time out before missing by a nose in a state-bred stake last month. The knocks on Flightline are that he has been handled with kid gloves thus far–including passing on a try at the Breeders' Cup–and has certainly not battle tested to this point, but his talent is undeniable and the additional furlong of the Malibu may in fact help him if anything.

Dr. Schivel (Violence), meanwhile, has been in several dogfights already and could very well earn champion sprinter honors if he takes down the favorite here. A winner of the GI Runhappy Del Mar Futurity going this distance last summer, the bay scored three straight this year after being transferred to Mark Glatt, besting elders in the GI Bing Crosby S. in July and GII Santa Anita Sprint Championship S. in October. He seeks redemption after taking a tough nose beat in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint here Nov. 6.

It's rare for a two-for-two Bob Baffert-trained 'Rising Star' to be flying under the radar–especially one with a pedigree like Triple Tap (Tapit)–but the chestnut may in fact be doing just that. Born and raised on the same Summer Wind Farm as Flightline, the half-brother to Triple Crown winner American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) and full to fellow Summer Wind colorbearer and GISW Chasing Yesterday (Tapit) was a comfortable debut winner over track and trip back in March. He resurfaced on Breeders' Cup Friday Nov. 5 to take a Del Mar optional claimer from well off the pace.

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Charlatan Likely to Saudi Cup Next

After Charlatan (Speightstown) worked a half-mile Saturday in :49.80 at Santa Anita, trainer Bob Baffert reported that his Grade I winner will likely make his next start in the Feb. 20 Saudi Cup. Charlatan is coming off a dominant win against a quality field in the Dec. 26 GI Runhappy Malibu S., his first after being sidelined following the GI Arkansas Derby May 2.

Charlatan has been invited to the GI Pegasus World Cup on Jan. 23 at Gulfstream, but will likely pass that race. Should Charlatan pass the Pegasus, the role of favorite will go to Knicks Go (Paynter), who will be ridden by Joel Rosario.

“He breezed today and it was a very, very nice work,” Baffert said of Charlatan. “We are leaning toward the Saudi Cup. I don’t want to bring him back too quick. He came out of the Malibu really well. He always showed that he was a brilliant horse.”

Continued Baffert, “When he won the Malibu he wasn’t really super keyed up for it. He ran a lot better than I thought he would. I thought he could win and I thought he would run well.”

So far as his top 3-year-old colts go, Baffert has begun plotting a course for Life is Good (Into Mischief) and Medina Spirit (Protonico), the one-two finishers in the GIII Sham S.

“Life is Good came out of his race really well,” he said. “We are looking, maybe, at the [GII] San Felipe [S. Mar. 6] for him. That could change. He will be nominated to everything, but it will either be the San Felipe or the [GII] Rebel [S. Mar. 13] for him.”

“I don’t know what we’re going to do with Medina Spirit. He will also be nominated to everything. What I usually do this time of year with horses like him that are breezing, they are all nominated everywhere and whoever breezes the best gets on a plane.”

Gamine (Into Mischief), the leading contender for the Filly & Mare Sprinter title, recently returned to the Baffert stable after spending time at Trifecta Farm and has yet to resume serious training. She won the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint in her most recent start.

“We gave her a little break and it looks like she filled out a bit,” Baffert said. “I’ll probably aim her for the [GI] Derby City Distaff S. at Churchill during Derby week.”

In Varda (Distorted Humor), Kalypso (Brody’s Cause) and Frosteria (Frosted), Baffert has a trio of contenders on the road to the Apr. 30 GI Kentucky Oaks. He said Varda and Kalypso will likely go next in the GII Las Virgenes S. Feb. 6. He said he would find a maiden race for Frosteria before putting her back in stakes competition.

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