Flightline works easy half in first breeze since the Met Mile

Flightline, the undefeated two-time stakes winner, had his first major exercise since a win in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap last month at Santa Anita on Saturday, working a half-mile in an official time of 47 seconds.

There was some discrepancy about the time. Trainer John Sadler clocked Flightline in 48 seconds.

“He went a nice easy half,” Sadler said. “It was a maintenance work. We weren’t looking to do anything sensational.”

The workout was the first of the summer for Flightline in preparation for the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at 1 1/4 miles at Del Mar on Sept. 3, which will be the longest race of his career. In the $1 million Met Mile on June 11, Flightline, a colt by Tapit, overcame trouble in the opening furlong before pulling clear to win by six lengths for his fourth win and the longest race of his career.

The Met Mile was Flightline’s first start of 2022. He ended his 2021 campaign with a win by 11 1/2 lengths in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes at seven furlongs for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita last December. A strained hock prevented Flightline from making a scheduled start in the Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes at seven furlongs at Santa Anita in March.

:: DRF Bets members get FREE DRF Past Performances - Formulator or Classic. Join now!

Despite his lack of experience at 1 1/4 miles, Flightline is rated as the leading contender for the Pacific Classic, a race that offers a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland on Nov. 5.

Purchased for $1 million at Saratoga as a yearling, Flightline has earned $794,800 in his four-race career for the partnership of Hronis Racing, West Point Thoroughbreds, Siena Farm, Summer Wind Equine, and Woodford Racing.

Flightline earned a fees-paid berth to the BC Dirt Mile at Keeneland on Nov. 5 by winning the Met Mile.

On Saturday, Sadler worked 2021 Pacific Classic winner Tripoli a half-mile in 48.80 seconds for a scheduled start in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at 1 1/16 miles at Del Mar on July 30.

The $300,000 San Diego is a leading prep for the Pacific Classic and will be Tripoli’s second start of 2022. On June 19, Tripoli finished a troubled fourth in the Grade 3 American Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita, his first start since a seventh-place finish in a field of eight in the BC Classic at Del Mar last November.

Tripoli underwent surgery to have a bone chip removed from a knee last fall.

Stilleto Boy, winner of the Grade 2 Californian Stakes at Santa Anita in April, worked a half-mile in 49 seconds on Saturday for the San Diego. Trained by Ed Moger Jr., Stilleto Boy was fourth in a field of five in the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup at 1 1/4 miles at Santa Anita on May 30 and resumed workouts in late June.