Flightline (horse)
| Flightline | |
|---|---|
| Sire | Tapit |
| Grandsire | Pulpit |
| Dam | Feathered |
| Damsire | Indian Charlie |
| Sex | Colt |
| Foaled | March 14, 2018[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Colour | Bay |
| Breeder | Summer Wind Equine |
| Owner | Hronis Racing, Siena Farm, Summer Wind Equine, West Point Thoroughbreds & Woodford Racing |
| Trainer | John W. Sadler |
| Record | 3: 3-0-0 |
| Earnings | $259,800[2] |
| Major wins | |
| Malibu Stakes (2021) | |
| Last updated on 21 January 2022 | |
Flightline (foaled March 14, 2018) is an undefeated American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the Grade I Malibu Stakes in 2021.
Background[]
Flightline is a bay colt that was bred in Kentucky by Summer Wind Equine. His sire is Tapit and his dam is Feathered (Indian Charlie).[3] He was bought for $1,000,000 by Hronis Racing, Siena Farm, Summer Wind Equine, West Point Thoroughbreds & Woodford Racing at The Saratoga Sale 2019.[4] Flightline is trained by John W. Sadler and his jockey is Flavien Prat.[3]
Racing career[]
2021: Three-year-old season[]
Flightline began his career on 24 April 2021 at Santa Anita Park in a Maiden event for three-year-olds and older over a distance of six furlongs facing six other non-winners. Flightline started as the 9/10 odds-on favorite bumped with one of the other entrants at the start, but kicked clear and then extended his lead around the turn to win ridden out by jockey Flavien Prat easily by 13+1⁄2 lengths in a time of 1:08.75.[5]
Flightline's second start was delayed for several months due to a foot bruise.[4] On 5 September 2021 was entered in an Allowance Optional Claiming for non-winners of two races at Del Mar Racetrack over a distance of six furlongs. Flightline proceeded to press the pace from outside, went to the lead midway around the turn and then opened up under mild persuasion by Flavien Prat. Then he pushed away in the straight, coasting to the finishing line in the last 100 yards to win by 12+3⁄4 lengths in a time of 1:08.05.[6]
Trainer John Sadler pointed Flightline for the Grade I Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita Park over a distance of seven furlongs, in late December against there-year-olds.[4] Facing six other sophomores, Flightline started as the short 2/5 odds-on favorite was bumped at the start by second choice Dr. Schivel while starting slowly. However, jockey Flavien Prat urged Flightline to the lead after a quarter-mile, leading clearly around the turn and drawing away in deep stretch winning easily again by 11+1⁄2 lengths in a time of 1:21.37.[7] Flavien Prat comments after the race were, "I was in cruise control the whole race, galloping freely. I wanted to get a good position and get myself into the race." Flightline was awarded an Equibase Speed Figure of 127, the highest number earned by any horse racing on dirt in North America in 2021.[7]
Statistics[]
| Date | Distance | Race | Grade | Track | Odds | Field | Finish | Winning Time |
Winning (Losing) Margin |
Jockey | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 – Three-year-old season | |||||||||||
| Apr 24, 2021 | 6 furlongs | Maiden | Santa Anita | 0.90* | 7 | 1 | 1:08.75 | 13+1⁄4 lengths | Flavien Prat | [5] | |
| Sep 5, 2021 | 6 furlongs | Allowance | Del Mar | 0.20* | 6 | 1 | 1:08.05 | 12+3⁄4 lengths | Flavien Prat | [6] | |
| Dec 26, 2021 | 7 furlongs | Malibu Stakes | I | Santa Anita | 0.40* | 7 | 1 | 1:21.37 | 11+1⁄2 lengths | Flavien Prat | [7] |
Notes:
An (*) asterisk after the odds means Flightline was the post-time favourite.
Pedigree[]
| Sire Tapit 2001 |
Pulpit 1994 |
A.P. Indy 1989 |
Seattle Slew 1974 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekend Surprise 1980 | |||
| Preach 1989 |
Mr. Prospector 1970 | ||
| Narrate 1980 | |||
| Tap Your Heels 1996 |
Unbridled 1987 |
Fappiano 1977 | |
| Gana Facil 1981 | |||
| Ruby Slippers 1982 |
Nijinsky II (CAN) 1967 | ||
| Moon Glitter 1972 | |||
| Dam Feathered 2012 |
Indian Charlie 1995 |
In Excess (IRE) 1987 |
Siberian Express 1981 |
| Kantado (IRE) 1976 | |||
| Soviet Sojourn 1989 |
Leo Castelli 1981 | ||
| Political Parfait 1984 | |||
| Receipt 2005 |
Dynaformer 1985 |
Roberto 1969 | |
| Andover Way 1978 | |||
| Finder's Fee 1997 |
Storm Cat 1983 | ||
| Fantastic Find 1986 (family 20-b)[8] |
References[]
- ^ a b "Pedigree of Flightline". Equineline. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
- ^ "Profile of Flightline". www.equibase.com. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
- ^ a b "Equibase - Flightline". www.equibase.com. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
- ^ a b c "Flightline Soars to Easiest of Victories in Malibu". www.bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 2021-12-28.
- ^ a b "Santa Anita Park: Maiden Special Weight (race 7)". www.equibase.com. 24 April 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
- ^ a b "Del Mar: Allowance Optional Claiming (race 8)". www.equibase.com. 5 September 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
- ^ a b c "2021 RUNHAPPY Malibu Stakes (Grade 1 - race 10)". www.equibase.com. 26 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
- ^ "Thoroughbred Bloodlines - Escalade (GB) - Family 20-b". www.bloodlines.net. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
- 2018 racehorse births
- Racehorses bred in Kentucky
- Racehorses trained in the United States
- Thoroughbred family 20-b