DEL MAR, Calif. (AP) — Flightline dazzled with a document 19 1/4-length victory within the $1 million Pacific Traditional. Coach John Sadler anticipated as a lot, he simply stored it to himself.
“You’ll be able to say it after the race, however you’ll be able to’t say it getting into otherwise you appear like a jerk,” he stated.
Flightline’s efficiency at Del Mar on Saturday made Sadler appear like a genius for his plan of coaching the 4-year-old colt as much as his first try at 1 1/4 miles as an alternative of racing him as much as it. He is run simply 5 occasions in his profession and gained each time by a mixed margin of 62 3/4 lengths.
“This horse is so sensible you need to house his races aside,” Sadler stated. “He is in his personal class.”
Flightline took a slender lead out of the beginning gate and briefly dropped to second earlier than transferring again in entrance and stretching his margin to 10 lengths on the mile marker.
“We at all times stated our mantra was, ‘In John Sadler We Belief,’” stated Kosta Hronis, one of many colt’s a number of homeowners. “He knew the fitting factor to do with this horse.”
Flightline left his 5 rivals within the mud underneath Flavien Prat, who flew in from New York and rode 4 winners on the 11-race card.
“Once we went into the ultimate flip, he was touring so effectively I requested him to choose it up a bit of bit,” Prat stated. “As quickly as I regarded again and noticed how far in entrance he was, I wrapped up on him. Clearly, that is the most effective horse I ever rode.”
Flightline coated 1 1/4 miles in 1:59.28, simply 0.17 seconds off the observe document set by Sweet Trip in 2003. He smashed the outdated mark for successful margin of 12 1/2 lengths set by Speed up in 2018.
“He can go quick and carry it,” stated Sadler, who gained the West Coast’s richest race for the fourth time in 5 years. “That is the distinction. That is actually a uncommon horse.”
Despatched off because the 1-5 favourite , Flightline paid $2.60, $2.10 and $2.10.
“Unbelievable winner,” stated Corridor of Fame coach Richard Mandella, whose entries completed third and fifth.
A son of high sire Tapit, Flightline turned heads on the East Coast in June when he gained the Met Mile by six lengths.
The victory provides Flightline an automated berth with charges paid to the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Traditional at Keeneland on Nov. 5. Sadler stated the colt will not race earlier than then.
Nation Grammer, the 7-2 second selection educated by six-time winner Bob Baffert, completed second and paid $2.60 and $2.20. Royal Ship was one other seven lengths again in third and paid $2.60 to point out.
“We acquired beat by an unbelievable horse; it was good to see the group clapping for him,” Baffert stated. “It was enjoyable watching the efficiency at the same time as a competing coach; it’s one thing you don’t see every single day.”
Categorical Practice was fourth adopted by Further Hope and Stilleto Boy.
The race was run in September for simply the second time in its 31-year historical past on the seaside observe north of San Diego. The attendance of 12,077 was the second-lowest ever, trailing solely the 328 readily available in 2020 when COVID-19 restrictions have been in place.
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