Unbeaten colt Flightline made it five wins from five starts in his career with victory in the Grade One Pacific Classic Stakes at Del Mar. In what was his first attempt over 1m, he scored by just under 20 lengths.
John Sadler’s runner is the second highest racehorse in the world now behind Baaeed. He is the highest-rated horse on dirt and also no horse in North America is ahead of him in those standings.
Oh my! Flightline is INCREDIBLE in the Grade 1 @TVG Pacific Classic ✈️ pic.twitter.com/IZxyvVSRHx
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) September 4, 2022This latest win has now given his connections a lot of confidence ahead of the Breeders’ Cup Championship. He is the +110 favorite in the bet on horse racing odds for the Breeders’ Cup Classic, the feature race at the world championship meeting.
Flightline is likely to be one of the popular horse racing tips for the Breeders’ Cup Classic as he has proven he has the stamina for the 1 ¼ mile distance. He retained all his speed at the end of the race at Del Mar, which allowed him to stretch away from his rivals.
The four-year-old was ridden prominently by jockey Flavien Prat in the early stages of the Pacific Classic. He hit the front of the field with five furlongs to go and then extended the gap between himself and the second-place horse as they traveled into the closing stages of the race.
Country Grammer, a horse he could meet again in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, finished as the runner-up. The Dubai World Cup winner proved no match for the son of Tapit at the Californian racecourse.
Breeders’ Cup Classic Favorite Has Potential to Be One of the Greatest
In his five victories to date, Flightline’s combined margin of victory has been 63.5 lengths. It leaves racing fans very excited about the potential of the horse. Some have predicted he could go on to become one of the greatest of all time.
Flightline made his debut in April 2021 over the sprint distance of 6f. He opened up with back-to-back victories, showing no signs of inexperience.
The US-trained horse then stepped up to the highest level on his third racecourse appearance for the Malibu Stakes. He hit the front very early into the 7f contest, scoring by just over 11 lengths.
Four-for-four. Flawless. Freakishly fast.
Flightline pulls away to win the Metropolitan Handicap. #WINandyoureIN #BelmontStakes
TV coverage continues on @peacockTV and @nbc. pic.twitter.com/EUnleFU4tD
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) June 11, 2022Flightline reaffirmed his class in the Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park back in June. He defeated Happy Saver and Speaker’s Corner in the 1m race, despite missing the break in the contest.
If Sadler’s runner maintains his 100% record in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, he could be set to take on some of the leading international races in 2023, with the Saudi Cup and Dubai World Cup likely to be under consideration.
Flightline is set to come up against Life Is Good at Keeneland for the feature race of the Breeders’ Cup meeting. The three-time Grade One winner won the Whitney Stakes at Saratoga on his latest appearance. Todd Pletcher’s runner will be a good test for the horse who is being described as a superstar.
The 2022 Breeders’ Cup Classic takes place on November 5, and it will be the final race at the two-day meeting.
