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Holy Bull Is ‘On The Table’ For Juvenile Third Giant Game

West Point Thoroughbreds and Albaugh Family Stables' Giant Game, unraced since running third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) last fall for trainer Dale Romans, continues to work toward his 3-year-old debut.

The sophomore son of Giant's Causeway had a five-furlong move in 59.76 seconds Wednesday morning over Gulfstream's main track, the fastest of five horses. Giant Game has been breezing steadily at Gulfstream since returning to the work tab Dec. 20, including another bullet five-eighths in 59.85 Jan. 11.

The $250,000 Holy Bull (G3) at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 5 is Gulfstream's next step for 3-year-olds on the road to the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) going 1 1/8 miles April 2. In between is the $400,000 Fountain of Youth (G2) March 5, also at 1 1/16 miles.

“I think everything is progressing nicely. I did talk to Dale probably a week ago and he was upbeat,” West Point's chief operating officer Tom Bellhouse said. “He said everything is going smooth. From what I understand, the Holy Bull is on the table. If he's training well, I would think he'd go to the Holy Bull.”

Giant Game, who fetched $500,000 as a yearling in September 2020, graduated at second asking in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight last October at Keeneland, earning him a shot at the Breeders' Cup. Sent off at 21-1, he was in a striking position on the outside in the stretch but wound up 3 ¼ lengths behind front-running favorite Corniche, trailing runner-up Pappacap by a length and a half.

“You have to start somewhere this year. Dale gave him plenty of time,” Bellhouse said. “I thought he ran a monster race in the Breeders' Cup. With a better trip I think we're probably second. If you look at the race the horse was really in a perfect spot on the rail, but I know when you feel like you're loaded you want to take that swing out. But, he ran a huge race and I'm hoping that he comes back and moves forward.”

The post Holy Bull Is ‘On The Table’ For Juvenile Third Giant Game appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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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.”

The post In Full Flight: Unbeaten ‘Rising Star’ Flightline on Target for Malibu appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Winning Impression, 12th In 2020 Kentucky Derby, Euthanized After Churchill Allowance

West Point Thoroughbreds and Pearl Racing's Winning Impression, 12th in this year's Kentucky Derby on Sept. 5, had to be euthanized after damaging his seasmoid after a turf allowance race at Churchill on Nov. 12, reports bloodhorse.com.

The 3-year-old son of Paynter was making his first start since the Derby, and rallied from well off the pace to finish third before bobbling near the wire. The Dallas Stewart trainee was pulled up around the turn and vanned off the course, but Winning Impression was unable to be saved.

“Sesamoid too damaged for us to save him,” said West Point's Terry Finley in a text message. “Simply heartbroken for everyone involved with this very cool horse.”