You can call Flightline’s win on Sunday in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes anything you want, but convincing is certainly appropriate. After waiting more than three months for his step up to stakes company, the racing world will tell you the wait was worth it!
On a beautiful Southern California afternoon at Santa Anita Racetrack, Flightline toyed with a field of horses that included a multiple Grade 1 Stakes Winner, two Stakes Winners and horses with more experience and wins. After breaking from the starting gate slowly and getting squeezed at the start, jockey Flavien Prat wasted no time hustling Flightline to the lead. Despite the early fractions being quick (22.01 seconds for the opening quarter, 44.48 seconds for the half mile), Flightline was in hand and cruising. With each stride, Flightline widened his lead while geared down and galloping for the last eighth of a mile. The final time of 1 minute 21.37 seconds was legitimate and 3.41 seconds faster than the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes at the same 7 furlong distance run earlier in the afternoon.
It’s hard to say what was more impressive: running the fastest Beyer Speed Figure (118) of any thoroughbred in 2021, winning by 11 1/2 lengths against quality opponents in a Grade 1 Race or winning for the third time by a combined 37 1/2 lengths? Regardless, his “freakish” performance brought comparisons in almost every racing publication to horses who made racing history.
Flightline came out of the Malibu in good shape and his trainer (John Sadler) will let us (Hronis Brothers, Siena Farm, West Point Thoroughbreds, Summer Wind Equine and Woodford Racing) know what he thinks makes sense as far as races to target in 2022.
Celebrating Christmas this year on December 26 was unusual but very rewarding!
Bloodhorse Article on Malibu Stakes
Paulick Report Article on Flightline