Shortly after Flightline won the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita Park on December 26, 2021, Flightline’s trainer (John Sadler) began to target potential stakes races in 2022. Unfortunately, a minor injury prevented Flightline from running in the first targeted race in March ($200,000 Grade 2, San Carlos Stakes at Santa Anita Park). After giving him time to recover and resume training, Flightline is ready to run in the second race that was targeted. The second race is the $1 million, Hill ‘N Dale Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park on Belmont Stakes Day (Saturday, June 11) which is being billed by many as the “race of the year”.
The race formerly known as the Metropolitan Mile is shaping up to be the premier race on Belmont Stakes Day. In addition to Flightline, the race has attracted recent Grade 1 Carter Handicap Winner Speaker’s Corner and Aloha West, the winner of the Grade 1, 2021 Breeders’ Cup Sprint Stakes. Any of the three horses would make for an exciting Metropolitan Mile but a race with all three will be special.
3, 2, 1…. Flightline has been cleared for takeoff ✈️
Welcome aboard, this flight will soon be landing at Belmont Park for the Met Mile. pic.twitter.com/T95FVwjWhN
— America’sBestRacing (@ABRLive) June 2, 2022
Since returning to training in April, Flightline has had nine, official workouts at Santa Anita Park. He was flown to Belmont Park (Elmont, NY) earlier in the week and will have an opportunity to stretch his legs and get familiar with the track between now and Saturday. Flightline has trained marvelously but will be taking on several challenges for the first time. The challenges include running outside California on a track with a composition different than what he has previously trained and raced on, competing against multiple Grade 1 Winners and running a mile (1/8 of a mile more than he has ever run).
Post time for the Metropolitan Mile is 4:43 PM (EST) and will be televised nationally on NBC. Flightline drew post position #1 and will be ridden by Flavien Prat. The stage is set for the return of Flightline and our ownership group (Hronis Brothers, Siena Farm, Summer Wind Equine, West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing) is excited to see him compete.
In addition to the excitement of the Metropolitan Mile, our (Repole Stable and Woodford Racing) 3 year old filly Inventing will run in the $500,000 Grade 1 Acorn Stakes. Post time for the Acorn Stakes is 12:33 PM (EST) and Inventing is #2.
Bloodhorse article on Flightline’s Jockey Flavien Prat (page 4)