Awesome Again field off Flightline's radar – for now

ARCADIA, Calif. – The top older males on the West Coast run full speed Saturday at Santa Anita – undefeated Flightline in a morning workout and Country Grammer in an afternoon Grade 1.

Being that the Awesome Again has a $300,000 purse and Breeders’ Cup Challenge designation, the race seems like a sweet deal. But “Win and You’re In” has two meanings this year. The winner of the Awesome Again earns a fees-paid berth into the BC Classic. That’s nice, but it also means jumping from the frying pan into the Flightline fire.

Three principals in the Awesome Again were dusted by Flightline at Del Mar. Depending on what happens Saturday, Country Grammer, Royal Ship, or Express Train could face him again in the BC Classic at Keeneland. Under normal circumstances, a rematch might be fun. Flightline, of course, is not normal. Nor was his Pacific Classic masterpiece.

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“I knew I could run second,” trainer Bob Baffert said, referring to runner-up Country Grammer in the Pacific Classic. “I didn’t think I could beat [Flightline], but I didn’t think he was going to beat me 19 lengths. I thought maybe five, or something.”

Flightline will be resting in his Santa Anita stall Saturday when the Awesome Again goes as the marquee race on a card with five graded stakes. Flightline is scheduled to work at 6:30 a.m. and train into the BC Classic, leaving a field of eight in the Awesome Again.

In addition to Grade 1/Group 1 winners Country Grammer, Express Train, Royal Ship, and Tripoli, the field includes Grade 2 winner Slow Down Andy and three Baffert outsiders – Grade 3 winner Azul Coast, and longshots Defunded and High Connection.

The 1 1/8-mile Awesome Again is the top race Saturday. The Grade 2 Santa Anita Sprint Championship, race 6, goes through comebacker Forbidden Kingdom. Three turf stakes are the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship, race 3, with Gold Phoenix; Grade 2 City of Hope Mile, race 5, with front-runner Beyond Brilliant; and Grade 2 Eddie D Stakes, race 7, led by Gregorian Chant.

The significance of all five stakes is clear. Run well, and the Breeders’ Cup is in play.

“That’s what this weekend is about,” said trainer Richard Mandella, whose Saturday runners include Royal Ship, Kandarel (City of Hope Mile), Forbidden Kingdom, and Lane Way (Eddie D). Mandella also plans to run Soothsay on Sunday in the Grade 2 Zenyatta.

Without Flightline in the Awesome Again, Country Grammer and jockey Juan Hernandez are favored.

“He should be favored,” Baffert said. “He shows up every time.”

He showed up in the Pacific Classic, but Flightline was in another area code. Since then, Country Grammer has not dazzled in morning works. He was fully extended to get past Azul Coast in a team work Sept. 25.

“Everybody does that with Country Grammer. He’s not a work horse,” Baffert said. “He brings his game in the afternoon.”

Does he ever. This year, Country Grammer has earned $10.7 million, mostly by finishing second in the $20 million Saudi Cup and winning the $12 million Dubai World Cup.

Express Train finished fourth by more than 26 lengths in the Pacific Classic, but he should improve Saturday. John Shirreffs trains Express Train, who won three graded stakes in winter and spring at Santa Anita including the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap. After finishing second in a Grade 2 in April, he was off four months.

“He was really tired, sore everywhere, and it took a long time before we got him into a really good work pattern,” Shirreffs said. “Since the Pacific Classic, his works have been excellent. I think he’s like he was when he was winning those races earlier.”

Of course, his rivals Saturday are tougher than he faced in winter.

Tripoli is a potential knockout. He won the Pacific Classic in 2021, then underwent a procedure late last year to clean up knee spurs. His comeback fourth was a creditable prep. He misfired and finished sixth in the Grade 2 San Diego but came out of the race sick. Trainer John Sadler subsequently entered him in a Grade 2 on turf, then scratched.

“I just didn’t like the spot,” Sadler said. “I think he’s better on dirt, so I scratched him, and I looked to take him out of town. I looked around and said we’ll just run him in our own backyard here. He’s doing good. He’s really perked up and now we just have to see it [in the afternoon]. But he’s working like the ‘good Tripoli.’ ”

Slow Down Andy won the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby last out, and will face older for the first time in the Awesome Again.

“We’re optimistic, but we realize it’s a big ask,” trainer Doug O’Neill said. “It’s in our backyard, and it’s a Win and You’re In.”

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