Flightline Arrives at Keeneland for Breeders' Cup Bid

A journey of more than 2,200 miles began with a single step in the wee morning hours Oct. 23 for Flightline , who departed trainer John Sadler's Santa Anita Park home base on a van bound for Ontario International Airport, flew from California to Louisville International Airport, then vanned down to Lexington ahead of his engagement in the Nov. 5 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Keeneland.

The undefeated son of Tapit   stepped off a KC Horse Transport van at 1:44 p.m. ET with barn foreman Cesar Aguilar on the shank. He was greeted by a group of media members and Breeders' Cup connections, along with co-owner Bill Farish of Woodford Racing and Lane's End Farm, where Flightline will ultimately retire to stud. Sadler and exercise rider Juan Leyva arrived shortly thereafter, having flown into Blue Grass Airport.

First in Aguilar's seasoned hands, then with groom Adolfo Correa taking over, Flightline circled the shedrow for about 45 minutes, pausing to take in his new surroundings with a calm and intelligent air. Next came a routine bath and a little more walking before the feel-good colt was bedded down in his new stall, which had been situated with special protective padding that shipped along with him from California.

Flightline thrilled fans last out with a 19 1/4-length performance in near-record time in the Sept. 3 TVG Pacific Classic (G1) going 1 1/4 miles—the Breeders' Cup Classic distance. It was his first time traveling that far, after taking the Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap (G1) at a mile and the 2021 Malibu Stakes (G1) going seven furlongs. Having answered the distance question in dazzling fashion while geared down by regular rider Flavien Prat at the wire, he is chasing his fourth consecutive grade 1 for Hronis Racing, Siena Farm, breeder Summer Wind Equine, Siena Farm, West Point Thoroughbreds, and Woodford Racing.

"He looks great, he seems to have shipped very well, and he looks very relaxed," Farish said. "So far everything has gone very well.

"He's just such a rare, rare horse... The way he does things, you think he can't do anything more spectacular than he's already done—and then he goes and does something like he did in the Pacific Classic. He's a special horse, he's exciting to be around... It's fun to watch him do what he does."

Flightline turned in his penultimate work for the Classic Oct. 22, drilling six furlongs in 1:11 4/5 at Santa Anita. While his final breeze before the race will be weather dependent, he has traditionally followed a Saturday work pattern. He is expected to jog early Monday morning, provided Sadler likes what he sees as the colt settles in after shipping.

"He's been working really well at Santa Anita and every week's exciting," Sadler said. "We're not trying to go fast, we're just trying to put the same kind of training we put into him before the Pacific Classic, and he's just handling it beautifully.

"(It was a) good work yesterday and (he) looked bright after the work, so hopped on a plane and here we are... The hard training is done, we just want to get him accustomed to the surroundings, let him see the Keeneland track, and enjoy this beautiful place."

KC Transport Goes Distance for Flightline

With a route from California to Kentucky slated once or twice each week, KC Horse Transport had no problem sending a van from its West Coast base to the bluegrass to meet Flightline upon his arrival at Louisville International Airport. 

The exact van, however, was intentionally sent with a load of horses in the care of brothers Tony and Ruben Cardenas, longtime drivers who have shipped the Sadler trainee on multiple occasions.

"We have worked for John for over 20 years, and he wanted us to keep things status quo," said KC Horse Transport owner Kerrie Sahadi. "We timed it so we could get there for him with drivers Flightline knows and a van he's used to traveling in. We were more than happy to be a part of it for him; we're excited for him. John always puts his horses first."

The granddaughter of Dell Cargill, a jockey in the 1940s and 1950s who later became a horse trainer, Sahadi followed in the footsteps of her father, Dan Cargill, who partnered with her grandparents in creating Cargill Horse Transportation in the early 1970s. In 2000, Sahadi launched KC Horse Transport and continued the family tradition.

Aside from his trip to New York for the Metropolitan Handicap, KC Horse Transport has hauled Flightline for almost every journey since he joined Sadler's string.

"Nothing seems to phase Flightline; he got off the plane cool as can be," Sahadi said. "I think everything went exactly as it should.

"That horse is something that just takes your breath away," she added, "and honestly the fact that John even wanted us to send a truck to Kentucky for him and that he has that much faith in us being part of Flightline's routine, that was great. It made us feel very appreciated. Van companies usually just work quietly in the background, but we have been so honored to share in his journey."