Flightline Soars to Easiest of Victories in Malibu
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Flightline coasts home all alone in the Malibu.
On Stephanie Hronis' first visit to Saratoga Race Course in 2019 to attend a board meeting as a trustee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, her TOBA colleagues took her to The Saratoga Sale, Fasig-Tipton's selected yearling sale in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. She, Terry Finley of West Point Thoroughbreds, and bloodstock agent David Ingordo put their heads together, and by the end of the sale they bought a son of Tapit for $1 million.
"I said that I was going to enjoy the Whitney weekend and soak it all up," said Hronis. "I had some horses picked, and David pulled it together."
"We had partnered (with Hronis Racing) on a couple of horses before, and everything just kind of fell into place," said Finley.
Call it serendipity because that partnership resulted in Flightline , who annihilated a stellar field in the Dec. 26 Runhappy Malibu Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park.
Kosta, Stephanie, and Pete Hronis of Hronis Racing and West Point eventually expanded the ownership to include the breeder, Jane Lyon's Summer Wind Equine, along with Siena Farm and Woodford Racing. A Kentucky-bred son of the Indian Charlie mare Feathered , Flightline in the Malibu continued a career that has thus far been brief but absolutely brilliant.
In the Malibu, Flightline, the 2-5 favorite, had the services of jockey Flavien Prat, who had his choice of Flightline, Qatar Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) runner-up Dr. Schivel , and undefeated Triple Tap , a half brother to Triple Crown winner American Pharoah .
Flightline and Flavien Prat return to the winner's circle after the Malibu Stakes
Against that kind of competition, which also included Vosburgh Stakes (G2) third Baby Yoda , things figured to be tougher than Flightline's two previous outings, wins of 13 1/4 lengths and 12 3/4 lengths. But they weren't.
Flightline broke in seventh and bumped with Dr. Schivel to his inside. From there, Flightline went to the front easily. Team Merchants and Baby Yoda stuck with him early, Team Merchants on the outside and Baby Yoda on the inside. But Prat was simply waiting to ask Flightline for his amazing turn of foot.
"I was in cruise control the whole race, galloping freely," Prat said. "I wanted to get a good position and get myself into the race."
Flightline began pulling away at the three-eighths pole. The margin of one length quickly became five and then six. . .and then it no longer mattered. For the record, when Flightline reached the wire, he had coasted home 11 1/2 lengths ahead of Baby Yoda, stopping the clock in 1:21.37 for seven furlongs. Baby Yoda finished a length in front of third-place Stilleto Boy .
Flightline was awarded a 127 Equibase Speed Figure, the top number earned by any horse racing on dirt in North America this season.
John Sadler trains Flightline for the partnership, and he liked the colt from the first time he saw him. West Point signed the ticket at the sale from consignor Lane's End, and Sadler happened to be in Kentucky when the colt returned to Lane's End before heading to Florida to be broken.
"I looked at this beautiful horse and was excited from day one," said the trainer.
The connections of Flightline in the trophy presentation for the Malibu Stakes
Sadler says that Flightline has such sheer talent that most of his job has been one of stewardship, seeing that the colt doesn't do too much too soon. Flightline's brief career to date—his first start in April as a 3-year-old and his second last September—was due to a couple of setbacks, one an incident between Flightline and a fence before Sadler ever got him.
"The fence won," said Sadler.
A foot bruise later also caused the team to take it slowly. Sadler pointed for the Malibu at seven furlongs, one last opportunity against 3-year-olds before he has to tackle older runners.
"There is a lot of pressure on you, but it is the pressure you want," said Sadler of training such a talent. "It's like the high school coach for LeBron (James). You know you have something special, and he is much the best."
Flightline will likely also stretch out, distance not looking like it will be an obstacle.
"The next race is up to the horse," Sadler said. "We have to be true to the horse. This horse is so brilliant. This is not an ordinary horse—this is a very special horse."
Flightline's dam, Feathered, is a grade 3 winner who finished second in the 2015 American Oaks (G1T). Feathered has produced three starters, all winners.
Flightline draws away from the field in the Malibu Stakes