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Undefeated superstar Flightline to stand at Lane's End Farm upon retirement

Son of Tapit was last seen winning the Pacific Classic by nearly 20 lengths

Flightline: will stand at Lane's End upon his retirement
Flightline: will stand at Lane's End upon his retirementCredit: Benoit Photo

The undefeated Flightline, who posted a near 20-length victory in the Pacific Classic 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 and 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, 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 his debut in April 2021 at Santa Anita. His 13 and a quarter length victory earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 105. He was scintillating in a first-level allowance at Del Mar at the second time of asking, winning by nearly 13 lengths and earning a 114 Beyer.

Making his black-type debut in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes in December 2021, Flightline continued to assert his dominance, winning by 11 and a half lengths and earning a 118 Beyer. Next seen in the Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park, Flightline overcame a slow start, stumble and troubled trip to score by six lengths, earning a 112 Beyer.

Flightline and connections in the winner's enclosure after the Met Mile
Flightline and connections in the winner's enclosure after the Met MileCredit: Adam Coglianese/NYRA

The 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 winner Country Grammer and Santa Anita Handicap winner Express Train to win by 19 and a quarter lengths, earning a Beyer of 126 - the joint second-highest Beyer since Daily Racing Form began publishing Beyer Speed Figures 30 years ago.

Flightline's Pacific Classic performance resonated overseas as it earned him a 2022-leading Racing Post Rating of 140, while Timeform assigned him a rating of 143, the highest 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 $1.4m and is being pointed for the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland in November.

Flightline is out of Lyon's Feathered, a daughter of Indian Charlie who won the Edgewood Stakes at Churchill Downs and finished second in both the American Oaks and Starlet Stakes and third in the Frizette Stakes.

It is an excellent Phipps family, as the third dam is Matron and Acorn stakes winner Finder's Fee, while the fourth dam is the Grade 1-winning and multiple Grade 1-placed Fantastic Find.


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Published on 12 September 2022inNews

Last updated 16:59, 12 September 2022

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