Flightline, who Beyered 105 in his debut, makes long-awaited second start
In late April, the 3-year-old colt Flightline won a maiden race in his debut with such speed and ease that he seemed certain to play a role in summertime stakes.
The expectation did not materialize into reality. Flightline developed a foot abscess in July, and his second start finally comes in a six-furlong allowance race at Del Mar on Sunday.
Perhaps Flightline will run in a stakes in the fall.
“He’s doing really well,” trainer John Sadler said. “It’s really fun to have horse with this much talent.”
Sadler said the abscess “resolved itself” in July, allowing Flightline to resume full training. Flightline shows five works in August.
Flightline, by Tapit, races for Hronis Racing, Siena Racing, Summer Wind Equine, and West Point Thoroughbreds. On April 24 at Santa Anita, Flightline won a six-furlong maiden race by 13 1/4 lengths in 1:08.75, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 105.
The field for the allowance race on Sunday includes Freedom Fighter, who was second in the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita in February but bombed with a fifth-place finish as the 1-2 favorite in an allowance race on July 16. Also in the field is Parnelli, who has not raced since a third in the California Derby at Golden Gate Fields in April.
Parnelli has raced at a mile or farther in seven of his eight races, and each time he was close to the early pace. But trainer John Shirreffs said tactics are likely to be different sprinting on Sunday.
“His rest period has helped him a lot,” Shirreffs said. “He’s matured physically. In his previous races, he was forwardly placed. Hopefully sprinting him will give us a chance to put him behind horses and finish well.”
The allowance race will be a class test for Escape Route, who won his 3-year-old debut in a six-furlong starter allowance on Aug. 7 in the quick time of 1:09.91 for trainer Mark Glatt.