Early Saturday morning at Keeneland, Flightline cruised through his final workout prior to the $6-million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) Nov. 5 at the Lexington track.
The unbeaten Tapit colt, with trainer John Sadler's assistant Juan Levya aboard and wearing a light on his helmet, breezed five furlongs in 1:00.60, the fourth fastest time of 62 moves at the distance.
With Sadler watching from Keeneland's grandstand overlooking the finish line, Flightline emerged from the seven-furlong chute shortly after 7:30 a.m. (ET) following the first track renovation break and went right into his work. He completed the opening quarter mile in :25.20.
“I told Juan to go in a minute and change and out (seven furlongs) in 1:26, and that's what he did,” Sadler said. “Juan's a great work rider. It was not about going fast today, just getting around there happy today.”
Saturday morning's work for Flightline was his sixth since his 19¼-length tour de force in the TVG Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar on Sept. 3, which solidified his status as the overwhelming favorite for the Classic.
Flightline arrived at Keeneland last Sunday from Sadler's home base at Santa Anita, where he had his past five works.
“He's had a good week and gotten settled in, and the track is a little similar to Del Mar,” Sadler said, noting that Flightline's schedule for next week will include returning to the track to jog Monday, gallop Tuesday through Friday and not go to the track the morning of the Classic.
Undefeated in five starts, Flightline could give Sadler a second Breeders' Cup Classic victory to go with the one that Accelerate provided at Churchill Downs in 2018.
“It would be great to win another one. I've got a top team behind me, and they have been with me a long time,” Sadler said. “He (Flightline) never has hidden his talent. He has always shown great ability from Day One.”
The world's top-rated racehorse, Flightline is owned by a partnership that includes Hronis Racing LLC, Siena Farm LLC, breeder Summer Wind Equine LLC, West Point Thoroughbreds, and Woodford Racing LLC.
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