Breeders' Cup Clocker: Flightline puts in strong gallop over off track
KEENELAND
Weather: Cloudy
Temperature : 54
Track: Good
LEXINGTON, Ky. – It was a very cold and relatively uneventful morning on the Breeders’ Cup front Wednesday at Keeneland where the highlights came early and late, with FLIGHTLINE galloping at his usual time shortly after 5:30 a.m. and BLUE STRIPE working an eye-catching five furlongs for the Distaff nearly four hours later.
Overnight rains resulted in a wet track throughout the morning with the temperature plunging from the mid-50s into the high 40s by sunrise and a strong westerly wind putting the wind chill closer to 40 by the time training ended at 10 a.m.
With some rain in the long-range forecast for Breeders’ Cup Saturday, it was interesting to see how Flightline would handle the wet footing Wednesday morning. He’s never raced or worked under those conditions during his career and had only galloped on a wet track one previous time, according to his regular rider, assistant trainer Juan Leyva, that coming earlier this year when at Belmont Park training for the Met Mile.
And handle it he did.
Breaking off at the five-furlong pole, Flightline got progressively faster the further he went, posting a 28-and-change clocking for his final quarter-mile with Leyva keeping him out near the middle of the track throughout, ultimately pulling up near the three-furlong pole after a spirited 1 1/4-mile gallop. It was Flightline’s most serious piece of work since arriving here Sunday and should erase any doubts about his ability to handle an off racetrack if the situation does arise for the BC Classic.
Despite winning the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch at Del Mar in her last start Aug. 6, Blue Stripe will likely be flying under the radar in a loaded BC Distaff lineup. Blue Stripe gave every indication she’s coming into the race on top of her game by working five furlongs over a back-raked and good racetrack in 59.97. She shaded 23 for her final quarter going easily before stepping it up another notch on the gallop-out, completing six furlongs in 1:12.23 and seven-eighths in 1:24.78 around the clubhouse turn.
Blue Stripe, who finished a well-beaten seventh in the 2021 Distaff at Del Mar in her U.S. debut, ultimately eased up a full mile in a very impressive 1:39.14 with jockey Ferrin Peterson aboard. Blue Stripe may be worth a look at what figures to be a square price in the Distaff off this effort.
Ironically, one horse who got a bird’s-eye view of Blue Stripe’s big work was Malathaat, who was back-tracking toward the wire near the outside fence in preparation for her regular morning gallop as Blue Stripe flew past down by the rail. Malathaat figures to vie for favoritism with stablemate Nest in a field that also includes Clairiere and Society, all four of whom turned in very solid works of their own here this past weekend.
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