Unbeaten Flightline To Drill Six Furlongs On Saturday At Santa Anita

By Mike Willman —-

UNBEATEN FLIGHTLINE TO DRILL SIX FURLONGS ON SATURDAY AT SANTA ANITA AS HE CONTINUES TO PREPARE FOR STARRING ROLE IN GRADE I, $6 MILLION BREEDERS’ CUP CLASSIC AT KEENELAND NOV. 5

ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 12, 2022)—With three solid works to his credit since taking the Grade I, $1 million Pacific Classic Sept. 3, John Sadler’s undefeated superstar Flightline will drill six furlongs at 6:30 a.m. this Saturday at Santa Anita as he continues to prepare for a likely role as the post time favorite in the Grade I, $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland on Nov. 5.

Flightline, unbeaten in five starts, will again be handled by Sadler assistant and former jockey Juan Leyva. With Leyva aboard this past Saturday, Flightline emerged from Santa Anita’s Stable Area via the quarter mile chute at approximately 6:30 a.m. while accompanied by a stable pony.
Breaking off from the five furlong pole he worked past the wire to the seven furlong pole, earning an official six furlong clocking of 1:12.40.

In winning the Pacific Classic, his first two-turn assignment, by a record 19 ¼ lengths, Flightline earned a tremendous Beyer Speed Figure of 126—best in North America this year.

A six length winner of the Grade I Metropolitan Mile Handicap June 11 at Belmont Park, Flightline took Santa Anita’s Grade I, seven furlong Malibu Stakes three starts back on Dec. 26 by 11 ½ lengths and has won his five races by a combined 62 ¾ lengths.

With the Breeders’ Cup Classic looming just three weeks from this Saturday, look for Sadler to “tighten the screws” a bit on America’s top-rated horse as he gets set to face his toughest assignment to date.

“This was perfect, it was a good work, nothing serious,” said Sadler this past Saturday. “We’ll get a little more serious (in his next work)…He’s right on schedule.”

Santa Anita’s Clockers’ Corner, accessible via Gate 8 off of Baldwin Ave., is open free of charge to the public during training hours. Admission and parking are free and full breakfast service is available.

First post time for live racing on Saturday is at 1 p.m. and with an expected total 20 cent Rainbow Pick Six pool of $2 million up for grabs, there will be a mandatory payout on Saturday.

ABOUT THE STRONACH GROUP AND 1/ST
The Stronach Group is a world-class technology, entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering at the core. The company’s consumer facing brand 1/ST (pronounced “First”) powers The Stronach Group’s forward-thinking 1/ST RACING, 1/ST CONTENT, 1/ST TECHNOLOGY, 1/ST EXPERIENCE, and 1/ST PROPERTIES businesses, while advocating for and driving the 1/ST HORSE CARE mission. 1/ST represents The Stronach Group’s continued movement toward redefining Thoroughbred horse racing and the ecosystem that drives it. 1/ST RACING drives the best-in-class horse racing operations at the company’s premier racetracks and training centers including: Santa Anita Park, Golden Gate Fields and San Luis Rey Downs (California); Gulfstream Park – home of the Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series, Gulfstream Park West and Palm Meadows Thoroughbred Training Center (Florida); the Maryland Jockey Club at Laurel Park, Pimlico Race Course – home of the legendary Preakness Stakes, Rosecroft Raceway and Bowie Training Center (Maryland). 1/ST CONTENT is the newly formed operating group for all of 1/ST’s media and content companies including: Monarch Content Management, Elite, GWS and XBTV. 1/ST TECHNOLOGY is horse racing’s largest racing and gaming technology company offering world-class products via its AmTote, Xpressbet, 1/ST BET, XB SELECT, XB NET, PariMAX and Betmix brands. 1/ST EXPERIENCE blends the worlds of sports, entertainment and hospitality through innovative content development, elevated national and local venue management and hospitality, strategic partnerships, sponsorships, and procurement development. 1/ST PROPERTIES is responsible for the development of the company’s live, work and play communities surrounding its racing venues including: The Village at Gulfstream Park (Florida) and Paddock Pointe (Maryland). As the advocate for critical industry reforms and by making meaningful investments into aftercare programs for retired horses and jockeys, 1/ST HORSE CARE represents The Stronach Group’s commitment to achieving the highest level of horse and rider care and safety standards in Thoroughbred horse racing on and off the track. For more information, please visit www.1st.com.