Flightline, Rich Strike, Hot Rod Charlie Lead BC Drills

Undefeated Flightline  was all business Oct. 15 in his fourth Santa Anita Park breeze in preparation for the $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) Nov. 5 at Keeneland, working six furlongs in 1:11 4/5 under cover of darkness.

As he has for the past month, Flightline entered the main track via the quarter mile chute with John Sadler assistant Juan Leyva aboard just prior to 6:35 a.m. PT. Accompanied by a stable pony, he galloped under the wire and around the Club House turn and was set down approaching the five-furlong pole.

From there, he clicked off splits of :23 3/5, :35 2/5, :47 4/5, and :59 2/5 en route to the seven-furlong pole.

Private clocker Gary Young had the undefeated 4-year-old Tapit   colt galloping out to seven furlongs in 1:24 4/5 and out to one mile in 1:38 3/5.

"Perfect," said Sadler, who noted Flightline will turn in his final Santa Anita work Oct. 22 before shipping to Kentucky Oct. 23. "It was another routine work from him. He always works the same and we're not looking to do anything different from what we've been doing. As you saw, he went six (furlongs) in :12, out (seven eighths) in :24, and a mile in :38 and three. Just a nice steady work pattern.

"All's good. That's him, that's the way he works. He'll have one more here and then he goes to Keeneland after his next work. He'll have one work over there."

Sadler also indicated Flightline will likely work a bit later in the morning next Saturday. 

"We might go a little later here next week because it's getting darker," he said.

Unbeaten in five starts by a combined 62 3/4 lengths, Flightline comes off a 19 1/4-length victory in the $1 million TVG Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) Sept. 3 at Del Mar, his first try around two turns and a race in which he earned a 126 Beyer Speed Figure, the top figure of the year in North America.

Flightline is owned by Hronis Racing, Siena Farm, breeder Summer Wind Equine, West Point Thoroughbreds, and Woodford Racing.

Rich Strike Zips Four Furlongs at Keeneland

RED TR-Racing's Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) winner Rich Strike  worked a half-mile on his own in :47 3/5 under Gabriel Lagunes at 5:35 a.m. ET Saturday over a fast track at Keeneland. The son of Keen Ice   galloped out to five furlongs 1:00 flat as his connections weigh whether to pre-enter the Breeders' Cup Classic or wait for the Nov. 25 Clark Stakes Presented by Norton Healthcare (G1) at Churchill Downs.

"I didn't think that I'd get nervous for only a maintenance work," said trainer Eric Reed, who left his home base at Reed's Mercury Equine Center in northeast Lexington for the work. "I was hoping for :48 or :49, but he was doing it so easy and as long as he wasn't fighting him, I was good with that. He handled the track well and whatever decision we make, he'll be ready to run."

Rich Strike comes off a tough-beat second by a head to Hot Rod Charlie  in the Oct. 1 Lukas Classic Stakes (G2) at Churchill.

"The decision would be easier if the Breeders' Cup was at Churchill Downs and there wasn't a Flightline," added Reed, who watched the work from the grandstand alongside jockey Sonny Leon. "And it is not only Flightline, but there is Life Is Good   and Olympiad  and Epicenter ."

Epicenter was the horse Rich Strike ran down in the final sixteenth of a mile in the Kentucky Derby and a horse he likely would have to beat again to possibly claim the Eclipse Award as champion 3-year-old male.

"I know Rich Strike is a better horse than he was at the Derby, and (Epicenter) is, too," Reed said. "And I would have to beat him again and not just by a nose (to earn the championship). We've got 10 days to make a decision."

The pre-entry deadline for the Breeders' Cup is 12:00 p.m. ET Oct. 24.

"I think we will pre-enter," Reed said. "I will probably bring him over (to Keeneland) the 23rd or 24th, let him gallop one day and then work the 25th or 26th. He will stay here (instead of returning to Mercury)."

Hot Rod Charlie 'Relaxed' in Return to Tab

Hot Rod Charlie worked a half-mile in :49 2/5 Saturday morning at Keeneland for trainer Doug O'Neill in his first work since his victory in the Lukas Classic.

"It was a good, relaxed work," said Tyler Gaffalione, who was aboard the 4-year-old by Oxbow  . "He went well within himself. I'm very happy right now. He's in a great mindset."

Owned by Roadrunner Racing, Boat Racing, Strauss Bros Racing, and Gainesway Thoroughbreds, Hot Rod Charlie has made two previous Breeders' Cup starts. At Keeneland in 2020, he was second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at odds of 94-1 and last year at Del Mar he was fourth in the Classic.

"He's grown up a lot (since the Juvenile)," Gaffalione said. "He's much bigger, much more powerful and much more mature. Right now, it seems like he's the complete package.

"He loves competition," Gaffalione added. "In the mornings when he works by himself, he can be a little bit lackadaisical and kind of lazy getting into stride, but once he finds a stride he gets going. In (the Lukas Classic), he made the lead and his ears came forward and he was kind of just waiting on the other horses. When Rich Strike came to his outside he re-engaged. He's very tenacious. He won't back down from a fight."

Also on the work tab for O'Neill on Saturday were Breeders' Cup possibles Awake At Midnyte  (half-mile in :49 4/5), eyeing the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) or Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1); Slow Down Andy  (half-mile in :48 3/5), under consideration for the Classic or Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1); and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) contender Vegas Magic  (five furlongs in 1:01 4/5).

Jack Christopher Fires Bullet

Three-time grade 1 winner Jack Christopher  highlighted a busy work morning for the barn of trainer Chad Brown, who has gathered the bulk of his Breeders' Cup hopefuls at Keeneland three weeks before the World Championships.

Working in company with Curlin Stakes winner Artorius , Jack Christopher worked a bullet five furlongs in 1:00 flat, best of 67 at the distance on the day. The son of Munnings   is under consideration for either the $2 million Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) or the $1 million Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1).

Distaff contender Search Results  (five furlongs in 1:00 3/5), Filly & Mare Sprint contender Goodnight Olive  (five furlongs in 1:00 3/5), and Juvenile contender Blazing Sevens  (half-mile in :48 3/5) were also on the tab.