Flightline stays on schedule with five-furlong drill
ARCADIA, Calif. – Flightline was the first worker after the 6:30 a.m. break Saturday at Santa Anita, strolling through a five-furlong drill as his flawless preparation continues for the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 5 at Keeneland.
Under exercise rider Juan Leyva, Flightline broke off by himself at the five-eighths pole and crossed the wire in 1:00.20. His gallop-out was strong; clockers gave the colt a six-furlong time of 1:12.40. Either way, Flightline was his typical professional self.
“We’re not looking for anything fancy at this point,” trainer John Sadler said, “just a nice, steady work, and we were right on point today. The next two works will be a little more important. He’s right on schedule.”
Flightline worked Saturday over a freshly renovated surface. His splits on Sadler’s watch were 12.20 seconds, 24.20, 36.20, 48, and 1:00.40. Sadler timed him galloping out in 1:12.60 and 1:25.80.
Leyva, who doubles as exercise rider and assistant trainer, talked earlier Saturday about the development of Flightline since he commenced racetrack training early last year.
“The difference is his behavior going to the track,” Leyva said. “He used to play a lot going up there, now he just walks quietly. Obviously in his works, he is much more settled, he is not trying to run off.
“Other than that, he’s the same horse,” Leyva said. “He is aggressive, he doesn’t like other horses around him, but he’s not pulling as much as in the beginning. You can see his head placement is low. Once he breaks away from the pony, he sets his head down . . . and just kind of waits for me to grab a light hold. He just cruises around there.”
:: Bet the Breeders' Cup with a $200 First Deposit Match and FREE Formulator PPs. Join DRF Bets.
He does the same in the afternoon. Flightline is 5 for 5; his three Grade 1 wins include a Sept. 3 romp in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar. He won by 19 1/4 lengths and earned a 126 Beyer Speed Figure.
Although Sadler plans to work Flightline by himself in major drills Oct. 15 and 22 at Santa Anita, the 4-year-old could work and gallop out farther than he did on Saturday. Travel plans call for Flightline to ship to Kentucky on Oct. 23 and post his final workout at Keeneland.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.