Undefeated Flightline , who posted a 19 1/4-length victory in the TVG Pacific Classic (G1) earlier this month, will enter stud as the property of a syndicate at Lane's End Farm upon the conclusion of his racing career.
By Tapit from a prolific Phipps family, Flightline was bred by Jane Lyon's Summer Wind Equine and is raced by Summer Wind in partnership with Hronis Racing, Siena Farm, West Point Thoroughbreds, and Woodford Racing. A $1 million purchase at The Saratoga Sale, Fasig-Tipton's select yearling sale in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., from the Lane's End consignment, Flightline is trained by John Sadler and has been ridden in all five of his starts by Flavien Prat.
Flightline displayed star power right from the beginning, winning on debut in April of 2021 at Santa Anita Park. His 13 1/4-length victory earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 105. He was scintillating in a first-level allowance at Del Mar at second asking, winning by 12 3/4 lengths and earning a 114 Beyer.
Making his stakes debut in the Runhappy Malibu Stakes (G1) in December 2021, Flightline continued to assert his dominance, winning by 11 1/2 lengths and earning a 118 Beyer. Next seen in the Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap (G1) at Belmont Park June 11, Flightline overcame a troubled trip to score by six lengths, earning a 112 Beyer.
The Sept. 3 Pacific Classic was Flightline's first attempt stretching out to two turns and a mile-and-a-quarter. It proved to be his most dominant performance to date, as he drew off from Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) winner Country Grammer and Santa Anita Handicap Presented by Yaamava' Resort & Casino (G1) winner Express Train to win by 19 1/4 lengths, earning a Beyer of 126—the joint second-highest Beyer since Daily Racing Form began publishing Beyer Speed Figures 30 years ago. Thoro-Graph assigned Flightline a negative 8 1/2, the fastest number it has ever given out.
Flightline's Pacific Classic performance resonated overseas: Timeform assigned him a rating of 143, the highest number ever given to an American-trained horse. Flightline also sits atop Timeform's 2022 global rankings, ahead of Shadwell's unbeaten European superstar Baaeed. He has earned nearly $1.4 million and is being pointed for the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) Nov. 5 at Keeneland.
Flightline is out of Jane Lyon's Feathered, a daughter of Indian Charlie who won the Edgewood Stakes (G3T) at Churchill Downs and finished second in both the American Oaks (G1T) and Starlet Stakes (G1) and third in the Frizette Stakes (G1). It is an excellent Phipps family, as the third dam is Matron and Acorn stakes (both G1) winner Finder's Fee, and the fourth dam is the grade 1-winning and multiple grade 1-placed Fantastic Find.
