Flightline on Cruise Control in Final BC Classic Work

The world's best racehorse put on a show Oct. 29 when he cruised through his final work in preparation for a start in the Nov. 5 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Keeneland.

With the apron at the Lexington track crowded with onlookers, Flightline  took to the track shortly after the renovation break at 7:30 a.m. ET, standing out among a sea of contenders as he sailed through an opening quarter in :25 1/5 en route to five furlongs in 1:00 3/5. The undefeated son of Tapit   galloped out strongly with usual exercise rider Juan Leyva in the irons.

"Usually what we would do at home is the same thing we would do today," Leyva said. "Just an easy five-eighths. We don't need to show any more kind of speed than he already has. We know he's a fast horse. So it was just a little bit of maintenance to keep him on the ground so he's not too fresh race week."

Leyva wears a blinking light on his helmet when he works Flightline, who often takes to the track under cover of darkness when training for John Sadler.

"He knows when that light is on, it's time to go fast," Leyva said. "As soon as I turn it on, you can see his ears prick up and he knows what it's about. But now, at this point, he's really good with me. He still pulls but not out of control. It's just a nice, on-the-bit feeling. He wasn't tough to pull up today because I let him gallop out. He galloped out :26 for the seven-eighths... it was plenty, but pulling up he still wanted to go a little more."

Sadler, who watched the work from near the finish line in the grandstand, said he was happy to see Flightline on cruise control throughout. 

"We just wanted to see him go smooth and within himself this morning and he did that," he said. "Backtracked on the turn to the seven-eighths, turned around and broke at the five, and worked to the wire, galloped out the seven. It was a very nice work, well within himself. It was just what we wanted to see. We didn't want to do too much because he's already there. We don't have to take him up, we just have to keep him the same."

Sadler mentioned Leyva's skill in coaxing Flightline to keep his dazzling speed under wraps. 

"(Flightline) can be very tough but Juan does a beautiful job of riding him," he remarked. "I've said many times, Juan's riding in the morning is as good as you'll get, so I'm very fortunate to have him."

Flightline is scheduled to walk the shed row Oct. 30, return to the track for an easy jog Oct. 31, and gallop Nov. 1 as the days count down to his Breeders' Cup engagement for owners Hronis Racing, Siena Farm, Summer Wind Equine, West Point Thoroughbreds, and Woodford Racing.

"It's a day by day by day until you get to the big day, but we're right there and the work was right on schedule, so we're pretty happy," Sadler said.