Flight Command becomes first U.S. winner for sire Flightline
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OZONE PARK, N.Y. – A little more history was made at Aqueduct on Thursday when the 2-year-old colt Flight Command won a maiden race by 10 lengths, becoming the first U.S.-based winner from freshman sire Flightline, the 2022 Horse of the Year.
Breaking sharply from the inside post under Manny Franco, Flight Command took control of the race soon after the start, running fractions of 22.37 seconds for the quarter-mile, 45.60 for the half, and completing the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:04.11. He returned $4.56 after being sent off the 6-5 favorite.
Flightline, who went undefeated in six starts and was a four-time Grade 1 winner, won his debut by 13 1/4 lengths in a six-furlong race at Santa Anita in April 2021.
Flight Command was a $275,000 purchase at the OBS March 2-year-olds in training sale. He is trained by Rudy Rodriguez for Randy and Larry Sarf's LSU Stables.
“Very, very impressive,” Rodriguez said. “I thought he would run big. He’d been training good. I was a little concerned when they scratched the [rail-drawn Roadhouse Warrior] because I didn’t want to be on the inside, but he had trained well from the gate.”
Demian became the first Flightline to win anywhere, doing so on June 13 at Tokyo Racecourse. There had been a couple of other progeny of Flightline's to run in the U.S, Greenwell and House Boat Party, who finished second and third, respectively, in maiden races at Churchill Downs.
Rodriguez said there was no immediate plan for Flight Command, though he will most likely have to jump into a stakes race. One race that may make sense is the Grade 2, $250,000 Saratoga Special at 6 1/2 furlongs at Saratoga on Aug. 1.
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