Flightline works half-mile, points to San Carlos Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – The brilliant, unbeaten Flightline got back to work Sunday morning at Santa Anita, and immediately after his half-mile drill trainer John Sadler said Flightline would make his next start in the Grade 2, $200,000 San Carlos Stakes here March 5.

The San Carlos is at seven furlongs, the same distance as the Grade 1 Malibu, which Flightline won in his last start on Dec. 26 to remain undefeated after three starts. Sadler said the timing of the San Carlos makes it an ideal bridge toward his next main goal, the Grade 1 Metropolitan - better known as the Met Mile - at Belmont Park on June 11.

"I don't want to ship him three times across the country this year," Sadler said. "He's going to ship for the Met Mile, and he's going to ship for the Breeders' Cup.” This year’s Breeders’ Cup is at Keeneland on Nov. 4-5.

"This way we can ship twice,” Sadler said. “It makes sense to stay home for his next race. The spacing is perfect for him."

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Flightline, a son of Tapit, has had his races well spaced. He won his debut against maidens at Santa Anita on April 24, then did not race again until pummeling allowance foes at Del Mar on Sept. 5. It was more than three months from that until his stakes debut, in the Malibu.

The San Carlos is run on the same card as the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap, as well as two other Grade 1 races – the Kilroe Mile and Beholder Mile - plus an important Kentucky Derby prep, the Grade 2 San Felipe, but with Flightline running, it stands to be the marquee event of the day.

Flightline worked right after the first renovation break, at 6:30. With assistant trainer Juan Leyva up, Flightline went a half-mile in 47.80 seconds, just breezing through the lane. It was his first drill since the Malibu.

He started off a bit quick for Sadler’s liking. “Too fast,” Sadler said to Leyva, via radio, a furlong into the drill. Flightline came to hand after passing the quarter pole.

"He just floats out there," said Sadler, who said Flightline looked “nice and relaxed” as he flashed past the finish post.