Eagles Flight has tough act to follow

ARCADIA, Calif. - By most standards, the 4-year-old colt Eagles Flight would rightfully gain accolades for winning two of his first three starts, including a sharp victory in an allowance race at a mile at Santa Anita on Saturday.

It is not that simple for Eagles Flight, a half-brother to the 2022 undefeated Horse of the Year Flightline.

Flightline won all six of his starts by at least six lengths, including four consecutive Grade 1 races in his brief career.

Eagles Flight won Saturday’s allowance race by only 4 1/2 lengths, finishing in 1:35.14. He earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 100.

Flightline’s Beyer figures ranged from 105 in his debut in a six-furlong maiden race at Santa Anita in 2021, which he won by 13 1/4 lengths, to an astonishing 126 when he won the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at 1 1/4 miles at Del Mar by a record 19 1/4 lengths in September 2022.

Eagles Flight is trained by John Sadler, who also trained Flightline.

Eagles Flight was always near the front, took the lead on the backstretch and was clear by early stretch under jockey Umberto Rispoli.

“I was very happy with his run,” Sadler said. “It was a good step forward. Rispoli said that he’s still learning. He’s still green.”

Eagles Flight is by Curlin. Flightine, now 7, is by Tapit and is at stud in Kentucky. His oldest foals are yearlings.

Even if he has not won by double-digit margins, at least not yet, Eagles Flight could have a big year for Sadler and the partnership of Hronis Racing, Summer Wind Equine and W.S. Farish.

“He looks like a good prospect,” Sadler said. “He has a lot of ability.”

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