Flightline zips through half-mile work for Metropolitan Mile

ARCADIA, Calif. - Fast workouts have been a regular occurrence in recent weeks for the undefeated colt Flightline, who zoomed through a half-mile in 46.80 seconds at Santa Anita on Sunday.

The time was the quickest of 78 works at the distance.

“He wasn’t asked to do much, just a little blowout,” trainer John Sadler said.

The workout was Flightline’s final major preparation for his first start outside of California in Saturday’s Grade 1 Metropolitan Mile Handicap at Belmont Park. The highly anticipated race will be the longest race of Flightline’s career, and a first meeting with Speaker’s Corner, the sharp winner of the Grade 1 Carter Handicap at seven furlongs at Aqueduct on April 9.

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Flightline, a 4-year-old, has worked quickly throughout his career, and has seemed particularly sharp in recent weeks. On May 23, Flightline had the fastest five-furlong workout of 59.40 seconds on a morning with 30 workers at that distance. On May 30, Flightline worked five furlongs in 59.80 seconds, the second-fastest of 23 works at the distance.

The Met Mile will be Flightline’s first start since a win in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes at seven furlongs on Dec. 26.

Flightline has won three races by a combined 37 1/2 lengths. He was briefly out of training earlier this year with a strained hock.

Owned by the partnership of Hronis Racing, Siena Farm, Summer Wind Equine, West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing, Flightline has earned $259,800.

On Sunday, the Sadler-trained Tripoli worked six furlongs in 1:13.40, continuing preparation for his 2022 debut this summer. The winner of the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar last August, Tripoli has not raced since he finished seventh of eight in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar last November. Owned by Hronis Racing, Tripoli underwent surgery last fall to have a bone chip removed from a knee.

Ce Ce, the champion female sprinter of 2021, worked a half-mile in 48.80 seconds for a scheduled start in the Grade 2 Princess Rooney Stakes for fillies and mares at seven furlongs at Gulfstream Park on July 2.

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Last year, Ce Ce won the Princess Rooney as part of a campaign that ended with a win in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Del Mar in November.

Trained by Michael McCarthy for owner and breeder Bo Hirsch, Ce Ce has won once in three starts this year, in the Grade 2 Azeri Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Oaklawn Park on March 12. Ce Ce was third in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap at 1 1/16 miles at Oaklawn Park on April 23.

Hot Rod Charlie, unraced since a second in the $12 million Dubai World Cup in the United Arab Emirates on March 26, worked six furlongs in 1:13.60 for the Grade 3 Salvator Mile at Monmouth Park on June 19.

Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith worked Hot Rod Charlie, but Flavien Prat will retain the mount, trainer Doug O’Neill said on Sunday.