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Hronis: “Great Possibility” Flightline Will Race Next Year

It appears that the door is open more than just a crack when it comes to whether or not racing's superstar Flightline (Tapit) will race next year as a 5-year-old. Appearing as the Green Group Guest of the Week on this week's Thoroughbred Daily News Writers' Room podcast presented by Keeneland, Kosta Hronis, a co-owner of Flightline, said there was a “great possibility” that Flightline would race in 2023 rather than beginning his stallion career.

“Just like with Stellar Wind (Curlin), which we left on the track an extra year, just like with Accelerate (Lookin At Lucky), which worked out great after we decided to bring him back for another year, our philosophy has always been that they were born to be race horses,” Hronis said, referring to two former stars that ran for Hronis Racing LLC. “Let's let them do what they want to do as long as they want to do it. I can't really give you a percentage when it comes to his running next year. You'd have to ask Flightline. But I really believe as long as he is healthy and happy with what he is doing and he still wants to go to the racetrack every day and be a part of this and he still wants to run the way he has been running, then I think there is a great possibility that we will see him next year as 5-year-old.”

Hronis added: “We're going to the Breeders' Cup, we'll come out of the race, see how we do and just go to the next step. I race horses, that's what I like to do. That is Hronis Racing. When it comes to their after-racing careers, we're not heavily into that.”

The situation is complicated by the fact that Hronis Racing LLC is one of just five entities that own a part of the horse. The others are Siena Farm LLC, Summer Wind Equine LLC, West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing, LLC. Hronis said that while he wants to see Flightline race next year, he will listen to the opinions Bill Farish of Woodford Racing and Jane Lyon of Summer Wind Farm. Lyon is also the breeder of Flightline.

“As far as me personally, I will defer to Bill Farish and Jane Lyon because they are the absolute experts when it comes to this,” he said. “I still consider myself to be kind of a newcomer. I've only been in the sport for 10, 11 years. As far as that second career for a horse, it's not something we are heavily involved in. As far as what happens on the racetrack, I defer to John Sadler. He is the man and he makes the decisions. As far as his second career, I will defer to Jane and Bill and let them call the shots and I will follow along. I will be a good partner.”

Yet, Hronis made it clear which way he is rooting.

“We'll keep our fingers crossed for Flightline to continue his career and to continue to be as successful as he has been,” he said. “He's good for horse racing and that's good for every owner in the country. I believe (Flightline running next year) might be the shot in the arm we need. So I really hope that we can continue this.”

Hronis also made a point of commending trainer John Sadler and exercise rider and assistant trainer Juan Leyva for the work they have done with Flightline. After his sensational 19 1/4-length win the in GI TVG Pacific Classic, Flightline is 5-for-5 lifetime and has never been challenged.

“John has done a great job with him in between races teaching him,” he said. “Him and Juan Leyva constantly teach him how to be a race horse and taught him how to go from six furlongs to a mile-and-a-quarter. I have to give them all the credit. The plan was laid out quite a long time ago and it has come to fruition. We have a great trainer. I have said this a few times: As blessed as we are to have Flightline, I think Flightline is really blessed to have John Sadler. He took his time, he didn't rush him and he taught him how to be a race horse.”

Elsewhere on the show–which is also sponsored by Coolmore, the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association, XBTV, West Point Thoroughbreds and Legacy Bloodstock–Joe Bianca, Bill Finley and guest host Randy Moss recapped closing weekend at Saratoga and, in the Weekend Preview presented by Three Chimneys, took a look at stellar race cards at Kentucky Downs and Del Mar.

Click here to watch the show.

Click here for the audio version.

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Summer Wind to Retain Yearling Half-Brother to Flightline

Following Flightline (Tapit)'s jaw-dropping victory in the GI Pacific Classic at Del Mar Saturday, breeder Jane Lyon of Summer Wind Farm has decided to withdraw the star colt's half-brother by Curlin from next week's Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The yearling, who is named Eagles Flight, had been catalogued as hip 243 with the Lane's End consignment.

“I had a feeling when Flightline did what he did [in the Pacific Classic] that it was going to be pretty hard for her to part with him,” said Lane's End's Bill Farish, confirming the news first reported in Blood-Horse. “It's disappointing not to be able to sell him, but we totally understand the decision to keep him.”

Farish continued, “[Lyon]'s been on the fence for a long time about selling him. She loves all of her horses, but every year there are a few that really grab her. And this one always has. It's tough because she loves to sell them well, too, but this is one that is just hard to part with.”

Flightline is out of multiple Grade I placed Feathered (Indian Charlie), who was purchased by Summer Wind for $2.35 million at the 2016 Keeneland November sale. The mare produced a filly by Into Mischief this year and was bred back to Tapit.

Feathered's 3-year-old colt by Pioneerof the Nile, Voron, was exported to Russia after selling for $100,000 at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton October sale, and her 2-year-old colt by Tapit, Olivier, RNA'd for $390,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale. Olivier worked five furlongs in 1:02.20 (17/27) at Keeneland last Friday.

Flightline, who races for a partnership which includes Summer Wind, as well as Hronis Racing, Siena Farm, West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing, sold for $1 million at the 2019 Saratoga sale.

Asked to compare the yearling to Flightline, Farish said, “They are both outstanding colts. This colt has a lot more Curlin in him. He is a stronger-made–not that Flightline's not–but Flightline is longer and this is more of a Curlin type. But he is really an outstanding-looking individual.”

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Tapit’s Flightline In A Race Of His Own In Pac Classic

The $1-million question heading into Saturday's 'Win and You're In' GI TVG Pacific Classic was if unbeaten superstar Flightline (Tapit) could handle the 1 1/4-mile Classic distance.

Here's a scary thought: he may be even better going longer.

Stopping the timer just .17 seconds off Candy Ride (Arg)'s track record for 10 furlongs established in the 2003 renewal, the dominating last out GI Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan H. winner absolutely crushed his five rivals by a geared-down record margin of 19 1/4 lengths–yes, you read that correctly–in a performance for the ages while making his two-turn debut in the Del Mar centerpiece. Country Grammer (Tonalist), winner of this term's G1 Dubai World Cup, was second.

“Did I think he could do that–win like that? Kinda yeah,” winning trainer John Sadler said after saddling his fourth Pacific Classic winner. “You don't want to say it in front of the race, but now that he's done it. The thing about him is that he's fast and he can carry it. Some horses are fast, but they can't go on. This horse can. He's an exceptional horse.”

Off at his 1-5 morning-line quote, the Hronis Racing, Siena Farm, Summer Wind Equine, West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing colorbearer cruised up to the front while racing about four wide heading into the clubhouse. Flavien Prat positioned Flightline in a perfect spot in second just off outsider Extra Hope (Shanghai Bobby) through early fractions of :23.42 and :46.06. Flightline could wait no longer as they hit the backstretch and tugged his way to the front. Prat didn't get in his way and let last term's GI Runhappy Malibu S. winner do his thing from there and this is where it got fun. Very fun.

About a little over a length in front with a half-mile remaining, the $1-million FTSAUG graduate hit the gas while Prat continued to sit chilly heading into the far turn, opened an “embarrassing lead” per legendary announcer Trevor Denman leaving the quarter pole and was in a race of his own down the Del Mar stretch in an absolute masterful performance.

“As soon as I looked back and saw how far in front he was, I wrapped up on him,” Prat said. “Obviously, this is the best horse I ever rode.”

Pedigree Notes:

Summer Wind Equine's Jane Lyon has steadily acquired a stellar broodmare band since buying her first Thoroughbred mares in 1995. Although it may be hard to believe, her first Grade I winner as a breeder didn't happen until just five years ago with Moonshine Memories (Malibu Moon). She's added quite a few more in the last five years, with Flightline–rumored to be the most valuable stallion prospect in history–undoubtedly the greatest feather in her cap to date. Click for a feature on Lyon's beginnings in TDN Weekend.

Lyon bought Feathered, Flightline's dam, for $2.35 million at the 2016 Keeneland November sale, and never was a mare more worth every penny. Her granddam is dual GISW Finder's Fee (Storm Cat), her great-granddam is GISW Fantastic Find (Mr. Prospector), and her great-great granddam is the unparalleled Phipps mare Blitey (Riva Ridge), whose descendants include champion Heavenly Prize; MGISWs Dancing Spree, Finder's Fee, and Good Reward; and GISWs Furlong, Oh What a Windfall, Dancing Forever, Persistently, and Instilled Regard.

Feathered has a 2-year-old full-brother to Flightline named Olivier, who was a $390,000 RNA at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale. The colt has been working at Keeneland and Lyon reportedly has retained him in partnership. Feathered also has a yearling colt by Curlin named Eagles Flight, a filly foaled May 17 by Into Mischief, and has been bred back to Tapit. Flightline is one of 95 Northern Hemisphere-bred graded winners for Tapit and one of 152 black-type winners for the perennial leading sire, who stands at Gainesway.

Saturday, Del Mar
TVG PACIFIC CLASSIC S.-GI, $1,000,500, Del Mar, 9-3, 3yo/up, 1 1/4m, 1:59.28, ft.
1–FLIGHTLINE, 124, c, 4, by Tapit
                1st Dam: Feathered (GSW & MGISP, $577,474), by Indian Charlie
                2nd Dam: Receipt, by Dynaformer
                3rd Dam: Finder's Fee, by Storm Cat
'TDN Rising Star'. ($1,000,000 Ylg '19 FTSAUG). O-Hronis
Racing LLC, Siena Farm LLC, Summer Wind Equine LLC, West
Point Thoroughbreds & Woodford Racing, LLC; B-Summer
Wind Equine LLC (KY); T-John W. Sadler; J-Flavien Prat.
$600,000. Lifetime Record: 5-5-0-0, $1,394,800. Werk Nick
Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Country Grammer, 124, h, 5, Tonalist–Arabian Song, by
Forestry. ($60,000 Ylg '18 KEESEP; $450,000 2yo '19 OBSAPR;
$110,000 4yo '21 KEEJAN). O-Commonwealth Thoroughbreds,
LLC, Winstar Farm LLC & Zedan Racing Stables, Inc.; B-Scott &
Debbie Pierce (KY); T-Bob Baffert. $200,000.
3–Royal Ship (Brz), 124, g, 6, Midshipman–Bela Val (Brz), by
Val Royal (Fr). O-Fox Hill Farms, Inc. & Siena Farm LLC;
B-Haras Belmont (Brz); T-Richard E. Mandella. $120,000.
Margins: 19 1/4, 7, HF. Odds: 0.30, 3.80, 10.20.
Also Ran: Express Train, Extra Hope, Stilleto Boy.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Freshman Sire Combatant Dies from Colic in Chile

First year stallion and 2020 G1 Santa Anita H. winner Combatant (Scat Daddy-Border Dispute, by Boundary) has died suddenly from colic in Chile. He had just begun Southern Hemisphere stud duties at Haras Porta Pia. Combatant stood his first year at Rockridge Stud in Hudson, NY.

Earner of over a million in his racing career, one which saw him annex the Big Cap and pick up minor honors in six other graded contests, Combatant was a $320,000 yearling purchase by Winchell Thoroughbreds at KEESEP in 2016. He placed in the GIII Southwest S. and GII Rebel S. before running fourth in the GI Arkansas Derby and 18th in that year's GI Kentucky Derby. He would go on to a third place effort in the GII Mathis Brothers Mile S. at Santa Anita before dropping back into allowance ranks and eventually selling after his final victory in November in the Asmussen barn.

Exchanging hands for $220,000 at KEENOV in 2019, going the way of David Ingordo as agent for Hronis Racing, he won the GI Santa Anita H. in just his second start for John Sadler, holding on gamely to turn away a late challenger. It would prove to be the last victory of his career before the stallion was retired to stud after six successive losses.

A Scat Daddy half to producer, GSW Long Lashes (Rock Hard Ten); GSP producer Mythical Border (Johannesburg); and stakes-placed Bordini (Bernardini), he was the most accomplished runner for his dam. He hailed from the extended female family of MGSW Conserve (Boundary), two-time Canadian Horse of the Year L'Enjoleur (Buckpasser), three-time Canadian champion racemare La Voyageuse (Tentam), MGSW Time Bandit (Time for a Change), and French Hwt. 2-year-old colt Holy Roman Emperor (Ire) (Danehill).

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