Breeders' Cup Clocker: Flightline hits the track Monday morning
KEENELAND
Weather: Sunny
Track: Fast, turf firm
Temperature: 51
With nary a Breeders’ Cup worker on the schedule, the big story here Monday morning was the first local appearance of the mighty FLIGHTLINE, who arrived at Keeneland early Sunday afternoon and wasted little time stretching his legs with an easy jog once around going clockwise on the outside rail shortly after the track opened for business at 5:30 a.m. Flightline, the marquee name of the 2022 Breeders’ Cup, is expected to gallop on Tuesday and have his final prep for his role as the overwhelming favorite in the Classic over the weekend.
Flightline was the second of two Classic contenders to hit the track early Monday, with Kentucky Derby winner RICH STRIKE among the first horses to train on a cool, crisp Chamber of Commerce morning in Lexington. Rich Strike jogged back past the wire before reversing direction and putting in a strong gallop as a prelude for his scheduled work here Tuesday.
JACKIE’S WARRIOR was originally expected to breeze this morning having done so here the previous Monday, although that notion was quickly put to rest when the heavy favorite for the Sprint was spotted turning in a leisurely gallop over the main track shortly before 6:00 a.m. It is anticipated he will now join Rich Strike on a Tuesday tab that is also likely to include Flightline’s stablemate, the Filly and Mare Sprint-bound EDGEWAY, who turned in a spirited gallop under the cover of darkness on Monday.
The turf course will be be available for training on Tuesday and could also produce several Breeders’ Cup workers as well.
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