Pletcher Gives the Nod to Flightline in Pacific Classic

On Sept. 2, Todd Pletcher was paying attention to Life Is Good . The 4-year-old colt, who won the Whitney Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course last month, was on the work tab. The son of Into Mischief   went four furlongs on the main track in a time of :49.55 as he prepares for his next assignment, the $500,000 Woodward Stakes (G1) at Aqueduct Racetrack Oct. 1.

On Sept. 3, the Hall of Fame trainer will be paying attention to what Flightline , the best of the west, does in the TVG Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar.

"Oh yeah, I am a horse racing fan," Pletcher said. "I am interested in it."

When asked if he thought Flightline, the 1-5 morning-line favorite in the Pacific Classic and unbeaten in four starts, would win, he gave an endorsement. The 1 1/4-mile Pacific Classic will be the first time Flightline has raced beyond a mile or around two turns.

"Yeah, I think he wins," Pletcher said. "One thing I was impressed with his Met Mile was the way he galloped out. It looked like he'll run that far."

Flightline won the Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap (G1) at Belmont Park by six lengths.

As for Life Is Good, who has won eight of 10 career starts, three of four this year, it looks more and more like he will run next at the Woodward. The other option, besides training up to the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), would be the $500,000 Lukas Classic (G2) at Churchill Downs on the same day as the Woodward.

"We are thinking we would want to get a race in between now and the Classic," Lukas said. "The Woodward being a grade 1 is the difference maker."