Unbeaten Flightline Back in Training

Undefeated 'TDN Rising Star' and jaw-dropping GI Runhappy Malibu S. winner Flightline (Tapit) returned to the track at Santa Anita Saturday after a strain in his hock forced him to miss a planned start in Saturday's GII San Carlos S.

“He jogged a mile which is pretty routine,” trainer John Sadler said. “We think his setback is over and he's back to training.”

Flightline, campaigned in partnership by the powerhouse line-up of Hronis Racing, Siena Farm, Summer Wind Equine, West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing, made it a perfect three-for-three with an 11 1/2-length victory while making his stakes debut in the Dec. 26 Malibu.

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In Full Flight: Unbeaten ‘Rising Star’ Flightline on Target for Malibu

Unbeaten and untested in a pair of blowout victories, 'TDN Rising Star' Flightline (Tapit) is gearing up to make his highly anticipated stakes debut in the GI Malibu S. on Santa Anita's traditional opening day program Dec. 26.

Campaigned in partnership by the powerhouse lineup of Hronis Racing, Siena Farm, West Point Thoroughbreds, Woodford Racing, and breeder Summer Wind Equine, the $1-million Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling made it two-for-two for trainer John Sadler in spectacular fashion, crushing a first-level group of optional claimers by 12 3/4 lengths over Labor Day weekend at Del Mar (video).

The bay earned an astronomical 114 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort, the co-highest rating recorded throughout all of the 2021 season.

After flirting with a potential start against older horses in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint at Del Mar last month, Flightline instead began gearing up for the seven-furlong Malibu versus fellow sophomores with five workouts since Halloween, most recently breezing a bullet five-eighths in :59.60 (1/28) at Santa Anita Nov. 28 (video).

“Very very happy with the way he's been,” Terry Finley said while checking in from Ocala on West Point's yearling class of 36 strong.

“John Sadler was able to give him a little bit of a blow after the Del Mar race. I know he's right on target, and is very comfortable. John just really thinks he's a special horse and a special talent. Everybody in the partnership is anxiously awaiting Christmas time and opening day at Santa Anita. It will be a good test. The water will be a lot deeper. Dr. Schivel (Violence) is a multiple Grade I winner and just got nipped in the Breeders' Cup Sprint. It's gonna be a formidable task and we are excited to see how he responds and runs against a really good group of horses.”

Finley continued, “It's very tough individually to buy these kind of horses anymore. The market has been white hot and it's a long way down when you spend $1 million for a horse all by yourself. It's easy to say, but this is a really good group of people and experienced. Everyone knows the ups and downs and has been around a long time. We all get along really well and we're all rolling in the same direction, which is absolutely essential in these type of partnerships.”

Flightline previously debuted with an equally impressive 13 1/4- length jaw-dropping 'Rising Star' performance at Santa Anita Apr. 24. So why all the time between starts? Is Flightline just too fast for his own good?

“People do ask all of us this on a regular basis–it was a simple foot bruise that kind of caused us to have to back up after his debut,” Finley responded.

“We all thought we had a special talent before he even ran. It's rare–very few horses run that well in their first start. And then he just had a foot bruise. It was nothing else. You could see his works. John took his time with him and we pointed for that race at the end of Del Mar. I'm not sure there's ever been another horse that has run a 114 Beyer in his second start. John is the captain of the ship and we all agreed that it would be the best thing in terms of development for this colt to bypass the Breeders' Cup Sprint and point for the Malibu.”

Summer Wind purchased Flightline's dam Feathered (Indian Charlie), a granddaughter of the Phipps Stable-bred MGISW Finder's Fee (Storm Cat), for $2.35 million in foal to War Front at the 2016 Keeneland November sale. Flightline is her second foal.

The versatile Feathered captured the grassy 2015 GIII Edgewood S. and was also second in the GI American Oaks and GI Starlet S., and third in the GI Frizette S. Feathered has a Tapit colt of 2020 ($390,000 FTSAUG RNA) and a Curlin colt of this year in the pipeline. She was bred back to Into Mischief.

“We all know these are the kinds of horses that we're all shooting for the stars with,” Finley concluded. “When you get one like this, it's absolute magic on a big scale. We're blessed– it's a cool thing to be part of the ride with a horse like this. I don't think that we've ever had the kind of anticipation that's starting to build as we have for this horse in the Malibu.”

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‘Pharoah’ Half Brother Impressive in Return at Del Mar

1st-Del Mar, $102,000, Alw (NW1$X)/Opt. Clm ($40,000), 11-5, 3yo/up, 6f, 1:08.44, ft, 2 1/4 lengths.
TRIPLE TAP (c, 3, Tapit–Littleprincessemma {Broodmare Of The Year}, by Yankee Gentleman), an impressive TDN Rising Star-earning winner of his debut at Santa Anita in Mar. 13, marked his return to the races in style Friday afternoon, coming from well off the pace to win in the first race at Del Mar. Settled near the back of the field early as the pacesetters exchanged blows up front through :21.64 and :43.73, the 9-5 favorite swung out several paths wide turning for home. Remaining on the wrong lead in early stretch, the half-brother to Grand Slam champion American Pharoah finally made the switch, quickly shot into contention and flew by Sumo (Not This Time) late to score by 2 1/2 lengths. In addition to Horse of the Year American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) (Ch. 3-year-old Colt, Triple Crown, Ch. 2-year-old Colt, MGISW, $8,650,300), the chestnut is also a full-brother to GISW Chasing Yesterday ($488,650) and a half to GISP American Cleopatra (Pioneerof the Nile). The 2015 Broodmare of the Year Litteprincessemma was purchased by Jane Lyon's Summer Wind for $2.1 million carrying the subsequently Group 3-placed St Patricks Day (Pioneerof the Nile) at Fasig-Tipton November in 2014. She is also responsible for an unraced juvenile filly by Tapit named Lasting Tribute followed by a filly and colt by the Gainesway sire the last two seasons. She was bred back to Tapit. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $96,600. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
O/B-Summer Wind Equine LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert.

 

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Friday’s Insights: Tapit Rising Star Returns at Del Mar

1st-DMR, $100K, Opt. Cl. ($40k), 3yo/up, 6f, 2:55 p.m. ET
Summer Wind Equine's TRIPLE TAP (Tapit) marks his return to the races for the first time since his impressive 4 1/4-length TDN Rising Star-earning win at Santa Anita Mar. 13. The chestnut is a half-brother to Triple Crown hero and Horse of the Year American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile). His prolific dam, Litteprincessemma (Yankee Gentleman), was purchased by Jane Lyon's Summer Wind for $2.1 million carrying a full sibling to Pharoah–the subsequently Group 3-placed St Patricks Day–at Fasig-Tipton November in 2014. She is also responsible for GI Starlet S. heroine Chasing Yesterday (Tapit) and GISP American Cleopatra (Pioneerof the Nile). In his latest work, the Bob Baffert trainee covered five furlongs in :59 2/5 (2/23) at Santa Anita Oct. 29. TJCIS PPs

MGISW WEDDING TOAST SON DEBUTS AT CHURCHILL
10th-CD, $120K, Msw, 2yo, 6.5f, 7:23 p.m. ET
Godolphin's WORDS OF WISDOM (Tapit) kicks off for trainer Brad Cox following a string of workmanlike moves, including the latest a five-furlong work in 1:01 4/5 (20/42) at Churchill Oct. 29. The homebred is the second foal out of Wedding Toast (Street Sense), winner of four graded stakes, including the GI Beldame Invitational S. and GI Ogden Phipps S. while banking over $1.4 million under the care of Kiaran McLaughlin. Also getting his start is Willis Horton Racing's Rider's Special (Union Rags), a $425,000 Fasig-Tipton Florida sale buy–the second-highest priced colt by the sire this season. Trained by Steve Asmussen, the April foal is out of unraced Fastbridled (Unbridled's Song), a great-granddaughter of undefeated champion older mare and blue-hen mare Personal Ensign. Lori Gervais and West Point Thoroughbred's Keen Heir (Keen Ice) is unveiled by Dallas Stewart. A $225,000 purchase at last spring's Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale, the chestnut is the highest-priced offspring by the freshman stallion this season. Gold Square LLC's Cyberknife (Gun Runner), a $400,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky yearling grad, returns after being disqualified from an apparent debut victory going a sixteenth shorter over this track Sept. 25. The Brad Cox trainee loses the blinkers for this return. TJCIS PPs

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