How High is High For Flightline
People have been buzzing about Flightline’s other-worldly performance in the Pacific Classic, as they have about all his previous races. Now it is time to see just who Flightline is and where he came from.~ Steve Haskin
How High is High For Flightline?
By Steve Haskin
“Oh, good lord!” That was the initial response uttered by trainer Chad Brown at Saratoga on Sunday when he was asked what he thought of Flightline’s performance in the previous day’s Pacific Classic. It pretty much summed up people’s reactions. Brown added, “I honestly don’t think Ghostzapper could have run with this horse.” That was the highest of praise coming from someone who learned his trade in the Bobby Frankel barn where the name Ghostzapper was God-like. Neither Brown nor Frankel had ever been around a horse as great as the 2004 Horse of the Year, who was able to perform magic on the racetrack with his devastating performances at all distances.
But Flightline has proven to be in a class by himself. Whether you were a fan of Secretariat or Dr. Fager or Forego or whatever legend you worshipped there is no way you can say that Flightline in only five career starts is more talented or more accomplished than many of the all-time greats of the sport. But what you can say is that you have never seen anything like him at this stage of his career.
There have been horses who on their best day demolished their opposition while running blazing-fast times. But there has never been a horse who has done it in every race, winning by an average margin of 12 ½ lengths while jumping from six furlongs to seven furlongs to a flat mile to a mile and a quarter and doing it effortlessly every time.
As the late great English racecaller Peter O’Sullevan used to say when he saw something out of the ordinary, “What manner of horse is this?”
I can easily answer that. Flightline is a horse who can jump into a Grade 1 stakes for the first time in his career and win by 11 ½ lengths in a sizzling 1:21 1/5 for seven furlongs under wraps the length of the stretch. He is a horse who can then travel cross-country off a 5 ½-month layoff and win arguably the toughest race in the country to win, the historic Met Mile, and despite a poor start and having to steady twice, win by six lengths in an eye-popping 1:33 2/5. Then after an almost three-month layoff he goes a mile and a quarter and two turns for the first time in the Pacific Classic and finishes in another zip code ahead of a field loaded with Grade 1 and Grade 2 winners. In the end he was 19 ¼ lengths ahead of the runner-up without raising a sweat, his time of 1:59 1/5 was a fifth of a second off the track record, and he earned an outrageous 126 Beyer speed figure.
But in many ways we still have no idea what manner of horse this is. Some three hours earlier at Saratoga, Olympiad was winning The Jockey Club Gold Cup, his sixth win in his last seven starts, and Flightline made that race and perhaps the winner seem insignificant when discussing the Breeders’ Cup Classic. But as Olympiad’s trainer Bill Mott said the following day about facing Flightline at Keeneland, “That was a Secretariat-type performance, but somebody’s got to run against him. You can’t let him run around there by himself.” Unfortunately for rival trainers that’s pretty much what he does anyway.
John Shirreffs, who had a ringside seat for the latest Flightline fiasco in the Pacific Classic, saddling Santa Anita Handicap winner Express Train, said, “I don’t think he even felt any pressure from the other horses in the race. Down the stretch he looked like he was running downhill. It was exceptional. He galloped for a while with the other horses and then galloped away.”
That has become Flightline’s m.o. – just gallop away.
But where did this freak of a racehorse come from and when did he first start showing these freakish gifts to those around him? We know the son of Tapit, out of the Indian Charlie mare Feathered, was purchased by bloodstock agent David Ingordo for the Hronis brothers, West Point Thoroughbreds, William S. Farish Jr.’s Woodford Racing, Summer Wind Equine (the colt’s breeder), and Siena Farm at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale for $1 million, consigned by Farish’s Lane’s End Farm as agent.
It was West Point that signed the sales slip, with Ingordo serving as the connector between several of the buyers. Terry Finley, president of West Point had gone to the Lane’s End consignment and fell in love with First Captain, who would go on to be a top-class stakes colt for him. But then he saw Flightline.
“David was smitten with him at the farm and when I saw him he looked like your typical Lane’s End type of horse,” Finley said. “He had such a beautiful head and I thought, ‘Man, this is what they’re supposed to look like.’”
Lane’s End Farm was always in on the colt, consigning him and then buying him under the name Woodford Stud. “Jane Lyon (of Summer Wind) prepped him and he was just a standout yearling all along,” said Bill Farish. “He was beautiful physically and had a great pedigree, which is why he brought a million dollars. We first started hearing positive things about him from April Mayberry”
After the sale the colt was sent to Mayberry in Ocala, Florida to be broken and given his early training. Mayberry has been around many top-class horses, the most notable being Zenyatta, so she knows when something special comes along. But even she had trouble finding the words to describe Flightline.
“I don’t know a word for him,” she said. “He’s just…I don’t know, a shining star for the industry. I can’t find the right adjective other than he’s amazing.”
Mayberry always breezes her young horses in company, but with Flightline she made an exception and had her top exercise rider Jorge Orancez breeze him by himself, which surprised him and the other riders. When he asked for reassurance that’s what she wanted to do, she told him, “I don’t want him in company. Just let him go down the stretch and let’s see what he does.” Her reasoning was the colt was giving off so much energy and he covered so much ground in his gallops she was afraid he might get too aggressive too soon breezing in company.
“He was so smart,” Mayberry said. “He would just stand on the track watching the horses train. It was like he was watching a tennis match, his head going back and forth as the horses went by him. He was so easy to break, there was no question he was going to be a good horse.”
So Mayberry watched his first breeze and couldn’t believe what she saw. “It took my breath away,” she said. “It was so effortless.” Immediately following the breeze Mayberry called David Ingordo and told him, “You need to come down here. This colt just gave me chills.” She later added, “He‘s unlike anything I’ve ever had. It was surreal. I just wanted someone to validate it.”
Ingordo, who had picked out Zenyatta at the sales for Jerry and Ann Moss, had seen him at Lane’s End Farm before the sale and as Mayberrry said, “was drawn to him.” But he didn’t say anything to his mother Dottie (who was the racing manager for the Mosses) or her husband John Shirreffs. “David doesn’t say much if anything about the horses he buys for other people,” Dottie said. Shirreffs added, “David never mentioned him to me.” That wasn’t surprising how stoic Ingordo is in general. Finley says he can be a little quirky, but when it comes to horses he is “a savant.”
So Ingordo went down to the farm to watch him breeze. Unfortunately while on the trainer’s stand waiting for the colt, Mayberry received a call from the barn. The colt had gotten very playful in his stall and reared up, lost his balance and struck his rump on the hinges of the stall door, tearing a big hunk of flesh off that needed to be stitched up. When she got back to the barn his groom was in tears. Thankfully it was nothing serious and Flightline was back on the track in three months. But he had lost valuable time which is why he didn’t make is debut until late April of his 3-year-old campaign.
When he got back to training he picked up right where he left off. “He knew how good he was right from the beginning,” Mayberry said. “He just did everything so effortlessly. He was such a joy to be around.”
After the colt was sent to John Sadler it didn’t take the trainer long to see the same things Mayberry saw. Through periodic reports from the barn, Mayberry knew he was capable of doing something very special in his debut, as did Kosta Hronis.
Before Flightline’s much-anticipated first race on April 24 Hronis was focused on getting his undefeated Santa Anita Derby winner Rock Your World to the Kentucky Derby. But in one of our texts, he threw this in from left field” “I’ve got one in the barn that is unbelievable.”
Terry Finley recalled, “After John Sadler’s assistant Juan Leyva who had been a jockey, jogged this horse for the first time, he took a video of him and sent it to his wife, who is a horsewoman herself. When she watched the video and heard her husband talk about the horse she started crying. Juan told her, ‘This is the best horse I’ve ever sat on and will ever sit on.’ And this was just jogging him. So you can say it was very early that this horse had the markings of greatness.”
Farish corroborated that story. “When he got to Sadler it was Juan who first got excited. He sent the video to his wife and she got very emotional watching it. When John first worked him we got a call from him saying, ‘Look, I don’t know how good this horse is, but I can tell you he is really good.’”
Mayberry said she was expecting an amazing performance in his debut, which he won by 13 ¼ lengths in 1:08 3/5. “It was the presence he gave off every time you were around him; you just know,” she said. “I wasn’t surprised by his victory. I was waiting so long to see him run and knew he had that in him if he was the horse I thought he was. I had so much confidence in him.”
Hronis texted me after his debut: “It’s only one race, but Flightline is the best horse I have seen in my 12 years as an owner. He just floats over the ground. We knew early on he was something special that no one had ever seen before.”
After the colt started rattling off one jaw-dropping performance after another, Hronis recalled his mindset throughout, “After seeing him work long before his debut I thought, ‘Wow!’ this colt is different. John knew after he got him from April. It’s impossible to predict this type of horse at a yearling sale. You may be getting a great looking horse with fantastic bloodlines, but do you have a racehorse? It’s never a sure thing. We realize we are very blessed to have him and have our family experience such brilliance. He’s a horse of a lifetime.”
He was also a horse of a lifetime for jockey Flavien Prat, who left Saratoga on Friday to ride the colt on Saturday and was back at Saratoga on Sunday. Before getting aboard one of his mounts on Sunday he was still all smiles from what had transpired the day before. It had been a hectic three days, but Prat said,”I’ll sleep well tonight.”
The questions now are can anyone run with Flightline? Can anyone make him even raise a sweat? Can anyone actually beat him? Todd Pletcher still has confidence in his brilliant Whitney winner Life is Good, who was bright and alert and a bit feisty when visited at the barn on Friday. And his coat was resplendent as he awaits his final prep in the October 1 Woodward Stakes.
But how confident is Elliott Walden, president of WinStar Farm, which co-owns the brilliant Life is Good, who has been considered one of the favorites for the Breeders’ Cup Classic all year? Walden actually put a poll on Twitter after the Pacific Classic that read: “Which race should Life is Good run in at the Breeders’ Cup – Breeders’ Cup Sprint, Breeders’ Cup (Dirt) Mile, or Breeders’ Cup Classic. He is one kind of a horse who can compete in all three. Congrats over the weekend to Flightline. What a special horse, too.”
Let’s just say prior to Saturday, the Classic was looking like a showdown between older horses Flightline and Life is Good and the leading 3-year-old Epicenter. Now Elliott Walden is polling the public where to run him. Looking at some of the comments they are all over the place, with some even suggesting the Breeders’ Cup Mile (on grass).
Scott Blasi, assistant trainer of the impressive Travers winner Epicenter, said, “Flightline may have put on one of the best performances I’ve ever seen, but Epicenter came out of his race really well and we expect him to continue to improve.”
So there are still some horsemen out there who are not ready to concede the Breeders’ Cup Classic to Flightline. But he has already toyed with the winners of the Santa Anita Handicap, Dubai World Cup, Jockey Club Gold Cup, Carter Handicap, Hollywood Gold Cup, Californian Stakes, San Diego Handicap, San Pasqual Stakes, Bing Crosby Stakes, Del Mar Futurity, and runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. And that’s only in five starts.
Now we sit and wait and count down to the next blast-off. As spectacular as Flightline has looked, he has one other attribute. As April Mayberry said, “He’s like Gorilla Glue; he brings people together.”
Terry Finley agreed, “He’s bought a lot of joy to a lot of people. I’m so humbled to be in a position where people you respect are making comparisons to Secretariat. It’s hard to put into words. You put so much into this game and you always ask yourself, ‘Am I ever going to get one of these?’”
The question we have to ask is not whether Flightline is one of these, but is he, as Kosta Hronis said, something we have never seen before.
Photos courtesy of West Point Thoroughbreds and New York Racing Association
As the Great Bobby Frankel said to me using the Razozin sheets, you want them to regress a little and you move forward a little.
L
It you haven’t seen the Moyglare Stakes yet go to YouTube, you’re in for a treat. Tarnawa’s half sister by Siyouni, Tahiyra, unleashed a devastating burst of speed to run right past the very good filly, Meditate. There’s an article in The Blood-Horse website as well. Unfortunately, Tahiyra is finished for the year, no Breeder’ Cup, so we’ll have to wait another 8 months or so to see her again but the wait will be worth it for sure.
That Kentucky Downs is a tough track to figure. In the 12th and final race yesterday, Big Invasion was a huge odds-on favorite. He ran a very disappointing 3rd. There was talk of him being one of the favorites in the Breeders Cup Turf Sprint. I wouldn’t give up on him if you like him. He was running against a possible “speed bias”. One Timer took off like he was shot out of a cannon and kept going. The Christophe Clement trained Big Invasion came with his run too late and may have lacked his usual punch at 6 1/2 furlongs. If I remember correctly, the BC Turf Sprint at Keenland will be at his preferred distance of
5 1/2 furlongs which could have him flying to the wire. If Golden Pal has slowed even a little bit, Big Invasion could pull off the upset at 4-1 or better. Now, we all know that trainer Clement has struggled mightily at the BC. But, don’t forget that he finally got off the “schneid” last year at Del Mar with Bobby Flay’s Pizza Bianca. I didn’t play Big Invasion yesterday, but, I was impressed with his late run against the possible bias and at a distance that might not be his best.
They usually put the BC Turf Sprint in the Pick-6 on BC Saturday and we’re going to have to get some prices along the way with a possible 1-5 favorite in the final leg.
I’ve been thinking about Secretariat. Doesn’t he still hold the record for a mile and a half on dirt? If so, he’s held that record for almost 50 years or half of a century.
I know people are saying that Flightline could have broken the track record at Del Mar. But, he didn’t. I can’t deal in “wouldas, couldas, and shouldas”. Now, I also realize that many tracks are deeper and more tiring now for the safety of the horses. Especially, out west at Santa Anita and Del Mar.
Does Flightline need to break “track records”? No. If he moves forward off of his record Timeform Rating and 2nd highest BSF of All-time when he runs in the Breeders Cup Classic at Keenland on November 5th, we’re surely going to see something special. His legend grows and he controls his fate. I’ve got the date circled on my calendar. Even if Flightline is “unbettable”, it will be “must-see TV”.
Speaking of the Breeders Cup, the Distaff could be one of the most interesting races of the weekend. Malathaat, Nest, Letruska, and Clairiere. Search Results looked better than I’ve ever seen her in her loss to Malathaat and may be coming back into top form. Personally, I like Clairiere to run much better. Something was bothering her in that last race. I choose to draw a line through her race as if it never happened.
It’s starting to look like the Classic…race #6…..will be it..
Speed Boat Beach is the latest rising star for Bob Baffert. The son of Bayern just won his debut at Del Mar setting a new track record for the 5.5 furlongs. His time was a stunning 1:01.86.
Speed Boat Beach is worth following to see how far he wants to go …
Baffert is asserting his dominance around young horses with his three horses occupying the Trifecta in that 6th quality-rich race. Hezaji (Bernardini) the 3.55-Million-dollar colt was second and Fort Bagg (Tapit) closed to be a distant third.
No Derby venture for him in 2023 though…
It’ll be interesting to see if Hejazi and Fort Bragg line up for the American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita or at Keeneland for the Claiborne Futurity Stakes in a month’s time. They look promising.
Speed Boat Beach looks the precarious sprinter type.
Hejazi seems to be improving steadily and could have a big say in the coming months…
but Cave Rock seems to be at the top of the heap at this moment… let’s see what happens today in the Del Mar Futurity…!
Yes Nelson, Hejazi is improving and should relish a mile this year with the Classic distances next year. I liked Fort Bragg’s attempt as well while expecting a huge leap forward when next out.
Keep your eyes on BBs Cave Rock. He looked really good in his debut too. He runs today in the Del Mar Futurity.
I like Cave Rock over the maiden Skinner…..and the Wash bred The Big Wam..
Track was fast but 1:20 4/5 by 5 widening lengths…what a sire Arrogate mhave been! been! Skinner is also going to be a Derby horse, for Shirreffs…too bad Cave Rock has to change barns, but that is some kind of talented colt…
If Cave Rock wins the Del Mar Futurity it would be a tremendous achievement for his sire Arrogate whose daughter And Tell me Nolies won the Del Mar Debutante Stakes yesterday. Cave Rock looks like a Derby horse … let’s he how he handles a nice group of prospects today.
BTW Cave Rock got Dynaformer as his second granddam sire just like Flightline’s.
I am glad to see Juan J. Hernandez getting opportunities piloting promising horses and keeping his momentum in California. He is the regular jockey of the talented Forbidden Kingdom for Mandella.
Nice to see Forbidden Kingdom has logged 5 works since early August.
Jon Hardoon said Flightline received a negative two Ragozin number, which is historically good….Spectacular Bid got neg three, for his Strub, thanks in part to a beautifully balanced blood bay named Flying Paster..
I saw Flying Paster win the 1981 San Antonio, with a tremendous finish!—-from one mile to nine furlongs I’d bet on Paster vs any Cal bred save Swaps, he finished like it was a turf race!..
An excellent sire as well, Flying Paster had 12% stakes winners.
The highly respected Timeform (UK) has been rating US horses for the past 30 years. Prior to the Pacific Classic: Cigar, American Pharaoh, and Arrogate had the highest rating of 139, followed by California Chrome 138, and Ghostzapper 137. Baaeed’s Timeform rating stands at 137.
After the Pacific Classic, Flightline became the new US leader with a rating of 143. To put that achievement into perspectaive only: Frankel 147, Sea-Bird 145, Brigadier Gerard and Tudor Minstrel 144 have ever been rated higher. For those who don’t believe Flightline is as good as many think, Timeform is the gold standard. Period.
European racing fans have sworn by Timeform ratings for as long as I can remember and a lot longer than that
That’s right Steve, Timeform’s reputation has never wavered.
Good information. Thanks. California Chrome is surprising to me. That he’s faster than Ghostzapper and anywhere near Arrogate and American Pharoah. I don’t mean to knock California Chrome and I certainly don’t want to stir up the “Chromies”, but, didn’t he run one of the slowest Kentucky Derbies in the last 25 years?
I use the Timeform Ratings when they are available. I trust them.
The Kentucky Derby is run nearly 3 hours after their previous dirt race, depending on if it’s warm…track can get dry and deep….Chrome was at his best at 10 furlongs, I wouldn’t call him great….he was pretty good..
Tommy, California Chrome received his 138 rating as a 5 year old, winning the Dubai World Cup and Pacific Classic not for the Kentucky Derby.
so he’s “great” already?
Maybe not “great”, but is it “going out on a limb” to call a horse that, in five starts, has won at distances from 6 furlongs ( both
run under 1:09 and won in a canter) followed by three G1 wins won at three different tracks, one of which was on the opposite
coast (the home track or the BC mile champion), the storied Met Mile and, lastly, the Pacific Classic at Del Mar, a
performance which was the impetus for this article. He won all theses races in a canter. He has never felt the whip. So,if not
“great”’ how about “out of the ordinary”?
I would put it a different way….Flightline ran a great race in PC, an outstanding race in the Met Mile and the Malibu.
Sit back and enjoy the ride.
Like I said….hearts his own shadow, really hard to compare..to….anyone—five races, all fresh …every race jeeps drawing away….he casts his own shadow..
File this under the heading of something you rarely see at Del Mar…..”off the turf.”
I’ve always felt that horses who win at Kentucky Downs are “bet againsts” in their next starts. Someone challenged me on that. So, I did a brief survey of the 11 winners, 12 counting Mud Pie’s 2 wins, on Saturday’s KD card. Of those 12 winners, only Calvary Charge followed up his 9-6-21 win with another win on 10-8-21. 1 for 12 is 8%. Many lost at very low odds. I think I’ve invented a new handicapping factor called “The Kentucky Downs Winner Bet-Against”. Twelve is a small sample. But, 8% is pretty low. So, be careful when winners at KD come back at Keenland or wherever else.
If I’m lucky enough to pick a few winners at Kentucky Downs on Saturday, I’ll stay away from them like the plague in their next starts.
Like they say, what happens at Kentucky Downs stays at Kentucky Downs.
Kentucky Downd is a “trip track”—some horses love it and some do not—the left turn before the wire certainly helps tiring speed….
I like Cave Rock on Sunday, in the Del Mar Futurity…..The Big Wam…a Washington bred—fills out my exacta, there’s talent there, there’s talent throughout that field..
UPDATE! A maiden in that race ….SKINNER…..could get a piece…is training WELL…should like the 7 fur…..
Breathtaking.
So disappointed there was no way to watch the race live. I don’t get TVG, and because I’m in Tennessee, TVG wouldn’t let me access their site from my tablet. And I didn’t have time to buy any of the gadgets that TVG said could stream the broadcast. I hope they don’t continue to have a monopoly on big races.
After the race Johnny V Country Grammar’s Jockey said..”We were in another race, and I rode my horse to win that race”…LOL
Very sad news the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II… a beloved Queen who was also an irreplaceable ally of Horse Racing.
RIP great Queen
Indeed. She was a remarkable lady who devoted her life to her country, her people, and her animals. My sympathy to all of them for such a great loss.
She was an advocate and voice for the preservation of horse breeds that were endangered.
The world has lost an amazing woman, the likes of which we will never see again.
Deepest and heartfelt condolences to her family and the people of Great Britain and the nations in the Commonwealrh.
Boy did she love her horses. I reemember when she visited Darby Dan Farm where she sent her big mare Dunfermline to be bred.
The Queen absolutely enjoyed herself during her five visits to Kentucky.
Sad for a nation, sad for the world, sad for horse racing. The Queen represent stability in an e er changing world. Royal Ascot will never be the same, hopefully, The Princess Royal will take over her mother’s stables.
Davids, there was some question as to what would happen to her horses. They were not all Thoroughbreds. And what would happen to her dogs well.
Hopefully The Princess Royale with her daughter’s help will take over horses.
Prince Edward’s daughter inherited Prince Phillip’s carriage and his driving team so hopefully she will someday be interested in the
racing stable. It has been said too that Princess Charlotte has an interest in horses.
My deepest condolences to you and everyone in Great Britian and the Commonwrslrh.
She was a shining light of stability, grace, compassion and service to her country for decades.
I have always had the deepest admiration and respect for her.
It will indeed never be the same.
This has been a sad, sad day.
I knew this morning when it was announced that she would be under medical care and then when her four children and Prince William were going to Balmoral rhat this was end but prayed that she would somehow get through it.
Thankful that she was at Balmoral…it was her happy place.
Yes Lynda, an era also departs with The Queen’s passing. I’m not so sure the Royal family will be seen in such a favorable light in the future.
Some have predicted that Charles lll will be the last British monarch. Perhaps that has some element of truth.
Personally I do not think we will see anyone like people (including Queen Elizabeth) from that era ever again.
I miss that era! It wasn’t perfect, but…..just watching old movies, you can see the dignified way people treated each other, in everyday life..it was a cup half full era..
The Queen was from my parents’ generation.
My Grandmother (only grandparent I knew, the others passed before I was born) became a widow at age 38 and was left with 7 children (ages from 16 months to 17 years old). she managed to keep her family together and I never heard her complain. He accepted the hand that had been dealt to her and did do with a glass half full.
Lynda, I think the Royal Family in England & possibly Wales will eventually be reconstructed to suite modern times. Scotland and probably Northern Ireland will eventually depart the United Kingdom which will have ramifications on the powers the King/Queen has at present.
The Dutch Royal family, minus their largesse, seems a logical model that could be followed. Kings and Queens being anointed by God are for fairly tales, in this day and age.
The Royal Stud will continue in some fashion but it will miss the Queen’s special knowledge and insight. I doubt there are any in the younger generation that really care as she did. She could quote chapter and verse on the lineage of most of the horses at the stud. She had a lot to do with preserving the Cleveland Bay breed. I am sure the staff she had will continue to care for the dogs as the King will most likely retain most of them.
She was truly a unique person and they don’t make them that way anymore.
Her loss is a real blow to the U.K. and the world. I’m so happy that she didn’t linger — in fact I was surprised given how she looked just days ago that the end came so quickly. That is a mercy, believe me.
The New York Times did a sidebar on her sporting interests but as she hadn’t won the Epsom Derby, moved on pretty quickly to some unremarkable ACC football game. Two of the queen’s horses — Carrozza (1957) and Dunfermline (1977) won the Oaks, and Aureole was second in the Derby the year she was crowned queen. Not too shabby, no matter who you are.
She was Queen for 70 years. That’s unbelievable. She lived through the terror that England endured during World War II. King Charles will have big shoes to fill. An impossible task for anyone. I wish him well.
Steve Haskin’s news that Flightline earned a -8 1/2 ThoroGraph number says it all. Steve Haskin reports that it’s the best number ever. No doubt that Flightline is very special and has done some GREAT things already. I choose to enjoy watching him run and waiting until he’s finished racing to evaluate his full body of work before calling him the best of all-time. He’s certainly heading in that direction.
I’ll throw out a baseball comparison that many might find useless. Fernando Valenzuela was heading for greatness and looked like a certain Hall-of-Famer. But, he hurt his arm. When he came back, he was a junk-baller and very average. He hung around for a few more years with different teams. But, those later years hurt his overall body of work.
Interestingly. Fernando pitched his only no-hitter after his arm problems began. I watched every pitch of that game. He threw nothing but junk-balls the entire game. Using what was left of his “fastball” as a “show me” pitch to keep the hitters off balance. Never throwing it in the strike zone. I was amazed at how he was able to bob and weave his way through the entire 9-innings. Maybe that was his final act of greatness.
The screwball ruins arms! Years after he retired, he tried a comeback, of sorts….old Civic Stadiun, in Portland, OR packed 30,000 to see him….
I watched Fernando pitch at Dodger Stadium many times. He had arguably the best & most unhittable pitch in baseball, the “screwball”.
Unfortunately the screwball isn’t used much anymore if at all because of the strain it puts on the arm. He was such an outstanding pitcher.
Like horse racing injuries in all sports cut short many careers.
Gale Sayers, Bobby Orr, Bo Jackson, Yao Ming, Earl Campbell, Brandon Roy, Greg Oden, Andrew Luck & the most famous and best Sandy Koufax. Best pitcher I ever saw.
In horse racing Graustark, Pine Island, Hail To Reason, Majestic Prince, Smarty Jones, Go For Wand, Barbaro, Successor, & so many others.
My dad was at Santa Anita when George Wolf died on the racetrack nearing the finish, if I remember the story. I was at Santa Anita when Alvaro Pineda died when his horse reared up in the starting gate. Very tragic across the board.
Austin Mittler…ran many years….that accident caused a redesign of the starting gates..
I was also at Santa Anita the day Pineda was crushed against the starting gate and remember people crying when the track announcer said he had succumbed to his injuries.
I suppose my biggest issue with people who are quick to crown the current best horse as “the greatest horse since SECRETARIAT” is that they leapfrog past SPECTACULAR BID, which is a major mistake or oversight. He earned his position of greatness after a stellar 30 race career, with 26 wins, no less.
FLIGHTLINE’s performance was phenomenal, but several other great races come to mind that never get referenced. There was SPECTACULAR BID’s 1:57-4/5 Strub Stakes, J.O. TOBIN’s tour de force in the Swaps Stakes, and ANCIENT TITLE’s brilliant Del Mar Handicap romp (which would have been a world record 1:57-3/5 if not for the “120 feet less” than 10 furlongs. More recently, ARROGATE’s Travers was absolutely astounding!
A lot of great racing has gone on between June 1973 and now, so I’m not too quick to crown a current star as the best of all time, because we’ve seen FOREGO, AFFIRMED, SEATTLE SLEW, RUFFIAN, SUNDAY SILENCE, EASY GOER, CIGAR, ZENYATTA, AMERICAN PHAROAH, GHOSTZAPPER, etc. I can’t forget all the great racing over the years and act as if there has been a 50 year void. Not saying that a modern runner can’t join the group of the all-time greats, because they certainly can, just that I wouldn’t vault them to #1 so readily after a spectacular performance.
And how could I forget FROSTED’s Metropolitan Mile victory of 2016 when he ran so fast at the end of the race (:23-1/5 for the last quarter) that it looked like he was shot out of a cannon! He didn’t even have the lead at the 6 furlong mark, yet he won by 14-1/4 lengths in 1:32-3/5. That was definitely better than what FLIGHTLINE did over the weekend (not taking anything away from what he did, of course, just trying to establish some perspective here).
FLIGHTLINE’s Met Mile was fantastic as well, and he won in 1:33-2/5.
Frosted lost in the Arrogate/Chrome Classic by more than ten lengths….BTW…There is a plaque at Del Mar, put up for John Longden, for breaking the winners record, in 1956….on a horse named Arrogate!
1972 Hollwood Gold Cup…15 horse field, Quack circled them and drew away, 1:58 1/5 oner a very fast surface one of the greatest performances of my lifetime.
Mike I was on track for that other worldly Ancient Title romp….unreal fractions, yet he kept on going….Crystal Water dwelt, sort of galloped out of there, towards the outer rail…Title was 7-1, won by seven….great big bay, that was his best race….
ANCIENT TITLE went hard and fast every step of the way that day. It really is unfortunate the world record is not his.
Matthew – I wrote a letter to the editor in Thoroughbred Daily News (TDN) on Tuesday of this week where I hope I gave FLIGHTLINE his due and respectful place in the pantheon of great performances, but I wanted to remind people that between the time of SECRETARIAT and FLIGHTLINE that there was nearly 50 years of racing with some really great horses doing some totally fabulous things!
Agreed!
Times are subjective. How fast could Flightline have run the Pacific Classic full out? Not sure but no doubt it is well under 1:59
Agree! Like I said Flightline casts his own shadow! Off that list of Mike’s….look at each horse’s FIRST two turn race, and compare those, to his—a 19 1/4 gr1, 152 Timeform….check the other first time two turn races….
I agree about Spectacular Bid but I would throw in Dr. Fager, Swaps, Damascus, Buckpasser, & Kelso. Ruffian was the best filly or mare I ever saw.
Good points…..
Thank you Steve for this wonderful article giving us information of Flightline’s history on where he came from and how he has gotten to this point. For me, the most amazing thing about him is that he is a descendant of both Secretariat and Riva Ridge, something very special! As for me, no horse will ever take Secretariat’s place on this earth, but I do feel that we may have been blessed with a stellar horse once again, to take us to a place where dreams come true and our hearts fill with joy and hope!
I love Secretariat … but, give me the “Bid”. Spectacular Bid. Still holds the world record for 11/4 miles, carrying the 126 high weight. Raced as 2 yr old, should’ve won Triple Crown, 30 RACE career at 15 different tracks, flew from coast to coast , logging frequent flyer miles Big Time. I recommend anyone to read the Peter Lee book about him.
I always say…best of seven give me Bid! Secretariat threw in clunkers, Bid fired big every time..
I don’t recall Secretariat ever throwing in a clunker, Matthew. But I do recall him running in two races which he lost due to physical conditions and one which he lost because he was ill- prepared, his team opting to sacrifice him for Riva Ridge.
They both had 21 starts, at two and three….both finished first 17 times…but Bid had that 9 for 9 4yo season …and I got to see him, which sways me some, I admit..
Wonderful article. He is pretty darn phenomenal. I hope to see him run a few more times. Thank you for your take on this amazing equine.
Well, he answered the distance question. I do wonder how he would respond to an early speed match and being eye-to-eye with another horse. And I wonder if someone will send out a sacrificial horse to test the idea, which could give another horse a chance. I do think the Secretariat comparison more than a bit much at this stage. Right now, I think of him more like Arrogate.
Flightline is very goodand fantastic. But the Big Red is a legend and he has a champion’s heart. I love the Big Red.
Thank you, Steve.
The information and back stories you provide are unavailable elsewhere.
As the late, great Bill Nack said about Secretariat: “His only frame of reference is himself”
Has Flightline earned that description?
If not, he’s getting close…
Thanks. We can only guess what lies in store
Flightline’s negative 8 1/2 is the fastest Thoro-Graph number ever, and Jerry Brown said if there is an error its that its not fast enough
Wow. Thanks for telling us, Steve!
Thanks for the update Steve. If I recall well, Frosted got the previous fastest Thoro-Graph number of precisely -8 ½
The other son of Tapit did it in the Met Mile (1:32.73). To me Flightline was even more impressive given it was for 1 1/4 mile and the better field he defeated last Saturday…
Prat decided to go widest of all in the first turn perhaps looking to make it easier to travel the sharp bend of Del Mar.
Flightline ran 28 feet farther than the others according to Trakus… was just a natural outcome of toying with the field as the superstar does not need to save ground to win for fun…!
Jerry said Frosted was slightly slower
Thanks Steve… after reviewing all the other speed figures out there I like Thoro Graph best. It is the closest to what all saw happening…!
Nelson, I think the difference between Frosted’s performance and Flightline’s performance is that Frosted was at full throttle, on a mission while with Flightline he was just enjoying himself, easy. I doubt they will ever let Flightline unleash his full potential.
You are right Davids… that is why I used the words “win for fun”…!
It is just a matter of time for Fligthline to break a track record even if never fires at all cylinders. This with 5 or 6 more starts (including Dubai WC) in his resume would make very hard to any detractor to rule him out of a Hall of Fame. Eight (8) Grade one wins will be enough for induction.
Nelson, it’ll be interesting to follow the conversation should Flightline win the Breeders’ Cup Classic as expected. Next year is a very long time in racing these days.
Yes … it is best to wait till November… then the only conversation that counts is the one to be held by Hronis Racing WITH Siena Farm LLC, Summer Wind Equine LLC, West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing, LLC …
A 100-Million Dollars Stallion will supersede any other consideration at the end of the day …
No one alive could or should have written this other than Steve Haskin
Thank you very much Marc.
My ideal horse has always been the front runner that just keeps on going.. It reminded me of Dr Fagers mile when , after hitting a 20,2/5 second quarter, cantered to the head of the stretch and then appeared to be cartwheeling himself away from the field even under his 134lb impost.. I never forgot that thrill and ive only seen it twice since- 1973 Belmont and watching Flightline at Del Mar.. I just hope he stays sound and that Hronis isn’t being coy about running him next year to entice bigger syndication offers.. It is hard to imagine that he can get better, run faster and the only thing he may lack is any other horse to push him. I want him sound and the chance to see him again and again
I truly enjoyed the above article on Secretariat. I saw the movie and was blown away by the performance.
What above article is that? The above article isnt about Secretariat.
hmmm
Exciting times to be sure. I, for one, am excited to see what’s next for Flightline. Can he continue? Could he possibly get even better? Gaining age and experience (although he’s seemingly in a league of his own at present) can actually improve some horses. I hope we all get to see him prove, without doubt, that he belongs in the rarified air.
It’s never too early to start looking at this year’s crop of 2yr. old colts. The Del Mar Futurity is coming up on Sunday, 9-11.
BB could very well sweep the Trifecta, with three impressive colts listed as possible for the race.
Newgate, 1st in a MSW, going 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:03.89. He worked a bullet 6 furlongs in 1:11.80 on 9-4.
Havnameltdown, 1st in the Best Pal Stakes, going 6 furlongs in 1:10.22. He worked 5 furlongs in 1:00.20 on 9=4
Cave Rock, 1st in a MSW, going 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.81. He worked 5 furlongs in 1:00.20 on 9-4.
I’m leaning towards Newgate, by Into Mischief, out of a Majestic Warrior mare. He has shown good speed, and there appears to be plenty of stamina and class on his dam side to be successful stretching out. Hopefully, Johnny V will back aboard Newgate in the 7 furlong DM Futurity Stakes.
Cave Rock looked good, to me– in his recent team work….he looked awesome, breaking his maiden! Fast early, strong late! I expect big things from this one..
Classical Cat by Mendelsson is also being pointed to this race. He easily the won who broke his maiden on first try defeating the 4.5 million Bernarfini colt that Zeydan bought. CC sold for a modest $65k. Same connections as rhe filly Nest. Lovely colt. He might have a day on this race.
Lynda, Baffert has Fort Bragg debuting in Race 6. at Del Mar on Saturday could be one to follow later on.
Baffert seems to have the 2yo races surrounded each season in SoCal. He has a pair in Saturday’s Debutante which appear to be the favorites.
Its what he does, and no one does it better! He buys, trains, and runs his horses, with the Triple Crown as his plan..
I agree. It’s the model Lukas used for numerous years to much success. I find it interesting that both of their careers have roots in Quarter Horse Racing.
And thanks for a great story, Steve!
Wow, what a horse! I think I will at least go to see his big work before the BC since I don’t think I can make it to Keeneland. I want to see the big horse roll in person. I think Life is Good needs to go in there & give it his best shot and at least let Flightline feel SOME pressure up front. Maybe LIG runs the race if his life and makes it exciting. Perhaps Epicenter can still move forward? I hope all the best jump in & don’t back down. Let’s see the Davids take on Goliath!
Hi Steve. As is always the case, your piece on Flightline was great. The background stories with the comments and opinions of the people behind the scenes, those who broke and schooled him and knew him in the days before he ever started a race were so informative. Truly Flightline was special from the beginning. And as you pointed out, he toyed with horses that had won all these great races. There are not enough superlatives to describe him.
Thanks Carol
I’m dreaming that both Baaeed in Great Britain and Flightline show up for the Breeders Cup. As I understand Baaeed’s trainer, Haggas William, watched the Pacific Classic and issued a complimentary comment. Also, I believe that B’s next start might be in the Oct. 2 Arc de Triomphe which would the perfect set up for the BC.
Both Flightline and Baaeed on the same day.
We can dream can’t we?
William Haggas has repeatedly stated that Baaeed will end his career in either the Arc or the Champion Stakes at Ascot on October 15, 2022, depending on the conditions at ParisLongchamp which are often a bog around Arc time – October 2, 2022.
I’d hazard a guess that they’ll stick with the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot but you never know.
Outstanding article ! Really starting to get excited about Breeders cup. Should be some great racing. Right now Flightline is the superstar ( at least to me) leading into the BC. Hopefully he will be healthy and ready to go. I’m starting to make plans to see him in person at Keenland. Thank you Steve.
Thanks Kenny, hope you can make it down.
I have seen many great horses. Some are freaks for a few races. Others others have a long record of greatness. The last horse that fulfilled both in my humble opinion was spectacular bid. I had high hopes for arrogate. But he could not maintain his freakiness. I’m ready for another freaky great horse. Hopefully time will tell.
Excellent essay, Steve. G.O.A.T. horses, like my Secretariat, definitely bring people together. We needed that healing brought about by Big Red then, and we need it now. I sincerely hope Flightline can bring us that healing with his Gorilla Glue!!! I own a few shares in one of the other horses in the Pacific Classic; however, my heart was with Flightline. I have always thought that just before The Belmont Stakes, Secretariat told Ronnie to hang on, for he was going to show us something we had never seen. I hope and pray that Flightline remains healthy & happy so he can thrill & amaze us!!!
BTW, it was so nice to finally meet you!!!
Thanks Mary it’s been a long time
Yes indeed, Steve!!!
Been waiting for your take on the latest flight of Flightline.
You have not disappointed. Thanks so much!
Steve, I was hoping your column would be centered around Flightline’s performance in the Pacific Classic as an historic perspective. I saw Dr. Fager, Damascus, Seattle Slew, Spectacular Bid win races in person, Secretariat on television, but as a child, then a teenager. At those times in your life I’m not so sure you truly grasp the significance of what you have just observed.
As much as you hoped, desired through decades of watching US racing since no other racehorses have ever truly reached that sense of amazement, astonishment than those above, until now. Flightline, from his first race, exuded an aura of invincibility that I haven’t seen/sensed since the heady days of the late 60s and 70s. The golden years of racing. Bernardini, Ghostzapper came close but you never felt they could actually match it with their sainted predecessors.
How apt to quote those immortal words of Sir Peter O’Sullevan as Flightline joins his illustrious forebears as godlike representatives of the thoroughbred. When opposition trainers gush enthusiastically or stand and cheer on Flightline’s triumph, as Bob Baffert did, you know the Laurel Reef has been anointed, long live the great, the mighty, Flightline.
How fortunate we are that Steve Haskin is still writing to put things into perspective. What a glorious day for everyone who lives for racing.
Davids, Well stated!!
Thank you, Casey. Last Saturday at Del Mar, Flightline turned fantasy into reality. Joy for everyone.
I know. I was photographing the race (when I wasn’t hosing the horses off)
I second your comment. Steve is presenting an objective assessment of Flightline’s performances while appreciating the excitement triggered by his latest exploit. His reference to his winning margins in every race as an unprecedented feat is a strong differentiator.
There is a big difference between winning and WINNING with capital letters…!
Flightline is the type of horse that makes even rival trainers become fascinated fans.
But You know the scariest thing, David? Not only that Flightline is getting better with age but HE is even better on turf… so good that he is capable of winning the l’Arc de Triomphe next year … sorry! I had to get ahead in the hyperbole department…LOL
Anyway, new fans may have not experienced the golden years of racing, but they can say with pride that they have seen Flightline.
Nelson, for a split second I almost believed you. Ha ha Wouldn’t that be wonderful though. I am forever hopeful that a colt descending from the Nasrullah line is going to win the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe again.
When the time comes, I’m sure Coolmore et al will send some nice broodmares to Flightline. Hope springs eternal.
Agreed!
I heartily agree. Nobody writes like Steve. We are fortunate indeed.
All I can say it Flightline gave me chills unlike anything I’ve felt in decades.
Stunning! Thank you Steve for a fabulous article.
The rumblings have been there casey, and They are Still there. People aren’t stupid …. they SEE how he hasn’t traveled, he hasn’t beaten anyone. RUMBLINGS, are louder amongst many more than what you will ever know. casey don’t you think Country Grammar is EXHAUSTED from his around the World travels and hard campaign against the best in world? And you have the audacity to say flightline whipped a dead tired worn out horse? (Country Grammar) That’s pretty sick.
So “poor Country Grammer” is exhausted from his 4 starts this year, his 9 month lay-off from the Hollywood Gold Cup in 2021 to the Saudi Cup in Feb of this year? He raced again a month later in the DWC, then had a 4 month lay off until July 30 where he finished 2nd in the San Diego Handicap, then a 5 week layoff until the Pacific Classic and he’s EXHAUSTED???? Don’t get me wrong, I like Country Grammer, but he was NOT the best horse on the track on Saturday and he is NOT exhausted. One thing Baffert is very good at is placing his horses in races and timing their training to peak in the big races. Flightline just beat his blinkers off
casey ….you stated MY Point. He hasn’t beaten ANYONE. That was the GENESIS of what I’ve been saying. He’ll NEVER be in the league of Secretariat or Dr Fager, American P., Justify,!and many others. Because he’s been so sickeningly handled with baby gloves.Also, because he’s an older man racing against juvies. It’s like comparing apples to oranges. The whole thing STINKS to high heaven. Who has he beaten????? nobody
Bonnie, Bob Baffert told his jockey not to chase Flightline in this race because he knew it would be futile. he knew Flightline was that good. Country Grammar is far from exhausted in fact Baffert probably did his horse a favor.
I think Bob and all the other trainers knew they were running for the place. Bob’s no fool. He’s not sacrificing a horse on a fool’s mission.
Bonnie I have given you a lot of leeway with your negative comments, but you wont let up and are now getting on my nerves. You made your case ad nauseam that you have some kind of personal dislike for this horse. Thats your prerogstive but you have to know when to let up or you will be become a bore.
A bit of a misnomer, I thought. Lol.
We all got to see history being made when we watched Pacific classic. I didn’t think I would ever see a horse better than American Pharaoh or Justify. In my life time here he is Flightline hands down fastest horse I have ever seen run. Love you
I was as impressed as anyone with Flightline’s Pacific Classic, and i think most of us would love to see him pushed, just to see what kind of racehorse he is. Unfortunately, that horse probably does not currently exist. The one small negative i took from the race was Prat’s ride through the stretch. Prat, certainly a top rider, was so passive that Flightline seemed a bit lost, wandering so close to the rail i feared he would hit it or go under it. That, and the horse’s implied fragility had me holding my breath.
Thank you Steve- Flightline doesn’t disappoint. He’s gorgeous to look at, he knows he’s a star and he’s not afraid of traveling or competition. I am tired of all the critics complaining about his light racing. Well, when you’ve got a huge scar on your butt from goofing around in your stall, you don’t get to run until it heals and you can get back into training. I remember hearing about Flightline on the backside before Rock Your World went to the Derby. The rumblings were already there. As far as whether he’s good or not, he’s only raced 5 times, true. But he’s not run only in the lead, or at the back, he’s gone with the pack… except when they’re moving too slow for him.
On the track Saturday photographing the Classic was surreal. Who did he beat? Dubai World Cup winner, Santa Anita Handicap winner, San Diego Handicap winner just to name three. But he didn’t just beat them, he demolished them. Nobody could even move up on him, except when Flav looked through his legs back at them as he stood up in the irons and geared him down at the 1/8…. I remember watching a big red horse on a black and white television set opening up lengths like that. Is he as good as Big Red? Too soon to make a call like that. What I can say is that he skipped over that track on an extremely hot muggy day, where it felt like you were breathing in a sauna, and came back fresh and full of himself. That’s scary good.
Can’t wait for the BC in KEE to see how the rest of this story plays out. I’ll be there, camera at the ready
Oh, poor big baby goofed around and cut his heine. How sad. flightline has had such a hard life. I don’t buy any of these constantly changing excuses. Something smells fishy. But, whatever ….. Go Todd Pletcher and Steve A. That’s all I say.
I’m sorry you’re such an unhappy person that you are unable to enjoy the beauty on display on a racetrack when a horse runs as effortlessly as Flightline. And for what it’s worth, he is not my all time favorite horse, not even close. But I do love his attitude, his mastery of the track and I am happy that the owners plan to bring him back for another year.
So Bonnie, miserable much? CG is nice horse,however Bob has zero in his barn,including CG who can warm up F L. Grow up!
prozac
Gotta tell you Steve- I had the chance to be at Sadler’s barn treating his runners on Sunday. The barn crew was dragging, (I know they must have been celebrating) but Flightline had gobbled up his feed and was alert, playing with his feed tub, eating and tossing his head around like he KNEW he was “all that”. Made me smile to see his ‘tude.
I’ve got to agree with Cynthia Holt, Steve, this is the column I’ve been waiting for. Thank you for providing the backstory on this amazing colt. I had no idea that he had a stall accident that delayed his debut, and the comments from his connections that they knew so early how special he was are quite illuminating. Let’s just hope Flightline continues to do well and makes it to the B.C. Classic, and then, as Kosta Hronis suggested, runs next year as well. One more question: Do you know how he got his name?
Thank you very much, Amy. I will find out about the name
I have been awaiting this column with much anticipation, Steve! At last, here is everything I have ever wanted to know about Flightline which hadn’t yet been answered. It a spell-binding story, with “Haskin” written all over it. I confess, like so many others, I have been “Flightlined.” He captured me with his first race, which I was so fortunate to have attended. It has been an “E” ride ever since, with the top of the roller coaster arriving on Saturday with a thrilling ride around Del Mar’s oval. I can’t explain the special magic which surrounds this horse, but he has resurrected feelings which have been dormant since Zenyatta and then Secretariat preceding her. Secretariat and Flightline are apples and oranges to me, I see no problem in loving both without having to knock one or the other off their pedestal. I am thrilled for John Sadler, who labored in the claiming ranks for years before working his way up to a stakes calibre stable. And I guess that is one of the few, if not the only, remaining questions I have about Frontline. How was John Sadler chosen for the job?
Thank you very much, Cynthia. It was fun trying to get the whole story. All I can say about Sadler is that he has been Hronis’ trainer for years and has had geat success for him. He does run in Hronis’ silks.
Thanks very much, Steve. Of course! I think I have suffered gray matter melt-down from all of this California heat. I am looking forward to more chapters in this spellbinding story!
Bonnie, his owners and trainer plan to race Flightline next year as a five year old.
What a blessing this special horse is. We all need someone and something special at this time.
When he races, it is like he and the other champion thoroughbreds are on a different race course.
I think he is protected by the Racing Gods.
I just enjoy this special being.
Give me a break (protected by gods) flightline has been spoiled and not asked of ANYTHING. He lazied around for Four and a half years. He has almost no chance of bone catastrophic injury, because his bones have been given the chance to get older and stronger from NO RACING. flightline’s story is so bad for racing. Nobody who has a big tall horse is EVER gonna race them in Triple Crown anymore. Lay in the weeds,and pounce on poor saps that have gone through the MOST taxing TRIPLE CROWN.
Are u for real?
First of all Steve I want to thank you for another stellar writing performance. Your blogs always get me pumped up for the next big race.
I have watched the Pacific Classic at least 10 times & each time I am left in awe & out of breath from Flightline’s performance.
I spent a lot of years at Del Mar growing up. My dad would take us there for the summer meet.
Del Mar is arguably one of the most difficult tracks to win a race in. Very sharp turns, a short stretch, the track favors speed horses & it can get extremely hot. So Flightline is basically galloping down the stretch with precision motion & he runs a 1:59 1/5 10 furlongs.
All I can say is wow…….. It’s been a long wait for a horse like this to come along, many blessings to the connections to keep him safe & happy.
Finally, this race brought back memories of Damascus Travers win, Dr. Fager’s historic world record mile, Spectacular Bid’s Strub Stakes world record 10 furlongs & of course Secretariats Belmont Stakes win.
Thank you Deacon. You mentioin Del Mar and I’ll add SA. To rrace at those tracks and then come to Belmont, which is a totally new experience and much more testing and do what he did in his first start of the year with 3 lifetime starts on that track is amazing/
Are you for real blacktype? Smarty Jones went through the hardest GRIND of all!!!!! The Triple Crown, as still a baby technically. flightline was a 4 and a half year old that never had to go through the RIGORS of racing.flightline was laying back getting the non heard of chance to get older developed bones. A barely three year olds bones, are no where near as formed as an almost 5 year old (flightline).
With respect Bonnie, this blog is about what Flightline accomplished on Saturday. No one is saying Smarty Jones wasn’t an excellent race horse. Unfortunately there has been many 3 year olds who have won the 1st two
legs of Triple Crown only to lose in the Belmont Stakes. Flightline delayed racing suggests that apparently he had issues to overcome at ages 2 & 3. I don’t care, he is here now & it appears that he can become an all time great, at least one can hope.
flightline couldn’t have even done what Arrogate, Country Grammar, Charlatan did. He’s been a spoiled, babied sack.
Hi Bonnie:
I see you were replying to me (takes a while to figure out where to post here). I did not mean to dis Smarty — I love that horse! It’s just that Flightline has shown brilliance that Smarty only got the chance to hint at before he was retired.
The 2nd highest US Timeform rating over last weekend was 130….for Country Grammer….2nd to Flightline’s 152..
Thanks, do you happen to know Epicenter, and Olympiads?
YES Jeff, hopefully those two will take him down. I will be pulling for those two real warriors.
I think Oly got a 125….Epi did not race last weekend.
That sounds strange considering how far back Country Grammar was. I know it was 19 1/2 lengths, but, I rewatched the race a couple of times and counted one, one thousand……………………I got to four, one thousand. Maybe I counted too quick. Whatever, he was way back there.
Country Grammar flew all the way around the WORLD you dingbat. I’d like to see spoiled man flightline do that. Hell, that spoiled horse has only gone to ny to defeat a lame field. COUNTRY GRAMMAR WON in DUBAI.deacon, I’d like to see you do something so exhausting.Don’t you ever disparage Country Grammar. He won on the biggest World Stage.
Bonnie that wasn’t called for & rude people don’t belong on this blog. Country Grammar raced in Dubai many months. No onr disparaged Country Grammar, where are you reading that anyway. I find you to want to unload on folks who happen to have an opinion of their own.
Thanks for that comment Deacon. My sentiments exactly. When a professional writer provides articles where in most cases folks are charged to access, it’s a blessing to see. I’m hopeful it’s a one-off. If not, it needs to be dealt with.
OK Bonnie, when Flightline faced off vs Speaker’s Corner, there was zero talk of a lame competitor, in fact the race was played up as an east/west showdown!—NOW, you say it was a lame field, but Jackie’s Warrior could have run…he raced the day before, and Life Is Good could have run…..they announced in FEBRUARY their intent to go to NY for the Met Mile, PLENTY of time for your warriors! You say they asked NOTHING? How bout running in the Met Mile off 6 mo layoff? How bout running against those warriors, first time two turns, on Sat?…..I’m for running in the big US races, and not Dubai ….he has decimated gr1 fields, enjoy it—he will be gone soon…..and you will be back watching your warriors, with the sore bones.
That’s the whole point W. He’s hardly had to RACE. He’s a spoiled sack. Do nothing. No EXCUSE for such an OLD horse who has no mileage on him to be spoiled like he’s a china plate.Disgusting. He’s no Secretariat. flightline epitomizes everything that’s wrong with today’s do nothing spoiled brats (trust fund scumbags). World
Are you talking about his owners? Hronis Bros DO race their stock! Accelerate ran often…..this guy got cut up, and a few dings…a horse that can put such an effort as he always does ..he is probably stressing himself ….I don’t like the trust fund profiteers any more than you do, but Hronis Bros race their stock…they aren’t so profit motivated…Horse Racing used to be the sport of the wealthy, who were sporting, I getya. He’s no Secretariat, he never will be. ..he casts his own shadow….
Who is disparaging Country Grammer? Country Grammer had a 9 month layoff prior to the Saudi Cup and Dubai, then a 4 month layoff till the San Diego Handicap, and a 5 week layoff until the Pacific Classic. There is nothing wrong with celebrating something we saw on Saturday, just as there is nothing wrong in celebrating Country Grammer’s Dubai World Cup win. It’s too bad you are so angry at the world.
I can honestly say that this is the first time in my life that I’ve been called a “dingbat”. So, I got that going for me.
Steve, wonderful to know we can count on you for the best back story on the people behind the horse out there. It takes skill and patience to get any good horse to the races, and Flightline’s team has been truly exceptional in that regard, and your essay masterfully revealed that.
I for one am not going to argue that he cannot be considered great because of how few starts he’s run, but I will note that several of the horses considered — at one historical point or another — ran only a few times (at least for the era), notably Colin (15 for 15) and before him, Salvator (16 for 19). Smarty Jones won 8 of 9, but I don’t think anyone consider him in same time zone as Flightline. Call him brilliant, sublime, a freak, or great, he is superb.
Oops, I dropped the word “great” somewhere around my em dashes. Salvator, who ran in the 1890s, was hailed as the greatest of all time and was only supplanted by Man O’ War. And many old-timers preferred Colin to Man O’ War.
When I saw Flightline “blast off” on the backstretch on Saturday, my first thought was that Flavien Prat was making the same mistake that Juan Hernandez had made a few races earlier in the Del Mar Mile with his “bonehead” ride on Goliad. Hernandez on Goliad opened up a big lead on the far turn only to slow to a walk in the stretch. The difference is that Flightline kept on going. Effortlessly by appearance. But, his final time of 1:59.28 says that he was really motoring. Good horses make it look easy.
BTW, Prat won 4 races on Saturday in his return to the WestCoast.
We’ll never make any money betting on Flightline. Best to just “single” him in multi-race wagers. Flightline may have turned the Breeders Cup pick-6 into a pick-5. This could be a good thing because, if I remember correctly, the pick-6 is a $1 minimum at Keenland.
Steve, Thank you for this article and giving us some more insight into the “GREAT” Flightline. What we saw last Saturday was total domination not seen since the 4 year old campaign of the “All Time Great” Spectacular Bid. There is not a horse today that can run with him. Life is Good can probably give it a good go for about a mile but that is about it. None of the horses in the Jockey Gold Cup won’t even come close. But as Mandela said you have to enter your horse because anything (Barbaro, Dennis Moment, Go for Wand … You know what I mean ) can happen in a race, the horse still has to go from the starting gate to the wire. People keep saying about Epicenter, and though he is a nice 3 year old (but I am still not convinced he is the best 3 year old ), might be able to give him a run, but as I have said in earlier post none of this years 3 years are mature enough to run with the more seasoned older horses this year. In the end, my only hope is that all of them to stay healthy and they all make it to the Breeders Cup sound and safe.
Have a Great Week Steve !!!
A very timely article from Steve Haskin. Very interesting to read the comments of the people who first came into contact with Flightline. This was the first time that I’ve read the complete story of the “mysterious” gash that he suffered in his stall which delayed his start.
I’d like to know the thinking of the person that suggested Life Is Good should run in the Breeders Cup Mile. He or She must have been confused and meant the BC Dirt Mile. IMO, the Breeders Cup Mile will be dominated by the Europeans again this year. The BC Turf? I have a feeling that Bill Mott could have a big say in that race with his “Goddess”.
Tommy, if the Shadwell Estate decide to run Baaeed in the Breeders’ Cup Mile save your money he’ll be odds on and will win. He’s 10 for 10. If you like a challenge, bet against him but I wouldn’t advise it.
Watching Flightline in the PCC, left me teary eyed, in the way that you know you have seen something beautiful, ethereal, but his career is so limited that any comparisons to the “Immortals of this sport”;Secretariat, of course, as well as Kelso, Dr Fager, and others, maybe too early. And for no other reason than the small resume. That being said, my opinion is, he very well may take his place with those that are the ones that still leave you breathless from just the memories and re telling if their accomplishments. I hope they race him next year and the call of the breeding she’d can be put off a bit and then Flightline very well will join that list of the Horse’s that are The Immortals.
And did you note how Trevor’s voice started breaking? I was standing up on a picnic bench, in the heat …they brought the horses by, as they waited for all of the betting….it was quiet, and Flightline sauntered past…..eirie…..as he started widening, I became emotional, to be watching a horse lose touch with a Dubai Cup winner, a Big Cap winner, a Hollywood Gold Cup winner….horse never two-turned before, and like Trevor said we may likely not see this ever again……
Huge thoroughbred fan… been following Flightline since I first saw him on the track.
“You can’t let him run around there by himself.” Who said that Bill Mott couldn’t be humorous?
Thank you Steve. I have been waiting patiently to hear your thoughts and once again you did not disappoint.
It was a big step for me to comment that Flightline’s race Saturday was remindful of Secretariat’s Belmont. I do not think I have ever made that statement before.
Just impressed by Flightline from his pedigree to his running style to his intelligence and his appearance.
Thank you too for clearing up the story about his injury. There have been three different versions floating around.
We can still breed a Thorougbred with both stamina and speed. The proof is in the pudding as they say here in the South.
Flightline’s success gives me hope that the sport might someday return to its glory days.
Who has he beaten? He’s had a very easy spoiled life, he has no wear and tear on his body like the other horses. Of course, they’ll will probably “retire” him soon . I STILL ask …who has he beaten?
You cocooned your rhetorical question, by stating the other horses have “wear and tear”, making it impertinent as to whom he beats …
Wish I had the wits to think of such a response.
When you ask, “who has he beaten”, simple answer: in 4 career starts, Flightline has beaten all the fields he’s faced by an average of 12 1/2 lengths. He faced past G1 winners in the Pacific Classic, winning by by 19 1/4 lengths, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 126 in the process. The only questions that have yet to be answered is, how many lengths will he will win the BC Classic by, and will he establish a new course and BC Classic Stakes record on November 5th.
Bottom line, I would venture to say, after he wins the BC Classic, you can no longer say, “who has he beaten”?
He’s beaten older geldings and horses that have gone through a lot. Look at how much flying over to Dubai has taken out of horses (ARROGATE), Country Grammar. He flightline didn’t have to go through the HARDEST of all, The Triple Crown grind.
He’ll be facing the best horses in the country in the BC Classic, with Flightline the horse to beat. Should he win the BC Classic, would that convince you that he is indeed a horse for the ages?
Why were there always changing answers as to why he didn’t race? Seems to me …. flightline’s strategy has been lie in the weeds … and wait,so he doesn’t get wear and tear. I think it sets HORRIBLE precedent.
Sarcasm I love it!
Bonnie, his owners and trainer plan to race Flightline next year as a five year old.
What a blessing this special horse is. We all need someone and something special at this time.
When he races, it is like he and the other champion thoroughbreds are on a different race course.
I think he is protected by the Racing Gods.
I just enjoy this special being.
As usual top notch from Mr. Haskins.Great history on this remarkable athlete.Look forward to his future.Thank you.
Thank you Donna.
I have been thinking a lot about Flightline, especially after the Pacific Classic. He has excellent bloodlines, no doubt. I am thinking he may have a larger heart like Secretariat. Secretariat is in his pedigree. I realize the gene is passed on from the females in the family. He is a wonderful horse and we all love watching him race; but it will take more than 5 races spaced apart by 3 or more months to put him up with the all time greats of thoroughbred racing.
I am still somewhat of a racing newbie so I have not experienced many of the racing greats of the past. American Pharoah and California Chrome have been my biggest racing thrills as Zenyatta won my heart after the fact. I wasn’t sure there would be another one. Thank you for the complete back story on this amazing horse. We can only hope that he will continue to prosper and stay in our lives for more than the next couple of months.
I will admit to having chills watching him race. That being said, why the sparse racing schedule? I can’t label him as anything but really good based on 5 races. If he’s not durable, please don’t breed him. There’s enough poor footed race horses on the track already, speed notwithstanding.
Another well-written article, Steve. I was sure you would have a unique perspective on Flightline while remembering the greats of the past. You do not disappoint. I watched the race and began to cry as he drew off from the competition. Shades of Secretariat’s Belmont. Indeed, I was privileged to watch something so spectacular one has to go back 50 years for a comparison and a hundred years to to the majestic Man ‘o War. We are blessed to be treated to the sight of such an equine athlete.
Thanks James
Flightline is listed as the 4-5 favorite for the BC Classic. He would also be odds on choice for the BC Sprint and BC Mile. As you mentioned Steve only Dr. Fager and Secretariat I can think of would be so versatile with brilliance at several distances or surfaces.
I get chills watching him run….that doesn’t happen often.
I am nearing 70, am fairly cynical, and generally take everything with a grain of salt. That said, I have watched three of Flightline’s races on YouTube. He is the first horse in my lifetime who reminds me of the late Ruffian. I don’t say that lightly.
I am however troubled by his sparse racing schedule. I applaud the trainer for putting the horse’s welfare first. Is Flightline that fragile? Or is he so fast they are afraid he will hurt himself? I have questions I can’t put into words. Flightline is impressive but five races does not make him “great.” I am still a tad leery but I can enjoy watching him run.
Sharon Brock, you have stated my case exactly. He’s a thrill to watch, but we’ve seen him fewer than 10 minutes. Two more minutes on Breeders’ Cup day, and we’ll never see him again.
Steve, I have been looking forward to a well written article about Flightline. And you have written the best and most informative article about Flightline written anywhere. Thanks to Secretariat.com for employing the most marvelous horse racing journalist. And how appropriate it is that Flightline is related to Secretariat on both sides of his pedigree.
I can just envision Penny Chenery, Secretariat, and all her wonderful people having a good laugh up in heaven.
And thank goodness, God willing, Flightline will running in 2023 the year of the 50th anniversary of his great great grandpa’s Triple Crown.
And in 2023, Paris, KY will have special park, with a beautiful sculpture and mural celebrating the arrival of Secretariat at Claiborne Farm in November of 1973.
I’m 75. Saw some of the all time greats up close and personal. Dr. Fager, Damascus, Buckpasser, Graustark. I consider Dr. Fager to be the best ever. Faster than sin from 2 furlongs to 2 miles, track records carrying a house on his back. Faced historically brilliant competition and crossed the line first 19 of 22 times. His only defeats were to brilliant animals and Damascus had a helper.
Still, I feel that Flightline is every bit as talented as the good doctor. The Tapit colt makes very good horses look like Amish rejects and does it effortlessly. Few horses of recent vintage have given me chills. Flightline freezes my nervous system every race. Scary good. Don’t worry about the spacing of his races. It’s 2022 not 1962. Many things are different nowadays including race frequency. If he had real “issues” he wouldn’t devour field after field like a giant bird of prey.
Great information Steve and Racetrack Bill….
I have been fortunate to see many greats as well: Spectacular Bid, John Henry, Sunday Silence, American Pharoah, Justify, and others. All had amazing qualities, but, NEVER seen anything like Flightline.
Being out of Tapit, do you think he can run a 1.5 miles, it would seem it would be done easily but wanted opinions?
Thanks very much, Terri
You are quite welcome Steve. What a blessing it is that you are still working as a writer.
The Racing Gods make no mistakes. It’s no coincidence that his performances occur near the 50th anniversary of Secretariat’s Triple Crown.
Only exceptional horses are created by the Racing Gods.