Flightline to Enter Stud at $200,000

Flightline  , who retired to Lane's End unbeaten after an 8 1/4-length victory in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) Nov. 5, will stand the 2023 season for $200,000, the farm announced Nov. 9.

The colt is a 4-year-old son of three-time leading North American sire Tapit   out of the Indian Charlie mare Feathered . His entering year fee is the highest since 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah   entered stud at Ashford Stud at $200,000, though later during his first breeding season some breeders were offered the opportunity to breed two mares at the price. American Pharoah bred 208 mares his first year, according to The Jockey Club's records.

American Pharoah was not the first stallion to enter stud at $200,000. That honor belongs to 1983 champion 2-year-old colt Devil's Bag, who was syndicated for $36 million and reportedly stood his first year for $200,000 though his advertised fee was private, BloodHorse reported in 2000 as part of the stud fee announcement of Fusaichi Pegasus. The stage for heady fees had been set two years before Devil's Bag's retirement when 1982 Horse of the Year Conquistador Cielo entered stud at $150,000. Both Devil's Bag, a son of Halo who won eight of nine starts and two grade 1s, and Conquistador Cielo, a son of Mr. Prospector, stood at Claiborne Farm.

American Pharoah is a son of Pioneerof the Nile and the second foal out of the Yankee Gentleman mare Littleprincessemma . He became the leading freshman sire of 2019 by progeny earnings and by number of stakes performers (11). As a second-crop sire of 2020, he ranked second by progeny earnings to Constitution   but was the leading sire of his class that year by number of black-type winners (10) and by graded/group winners (six).

Ashford also launched the stud career of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify  , a son of Scat Daddy out of the graded-placed Ghostzapper   mare Stage Magic , who entered stud at $150,000. As of Nov. 9, Justify is the leading freshman sire of 2022 by progeny earnings and also is the leader by number of black-type winners (five) and graded/group winners (four).

Prior to the Triple Crown winners, Fusaichi Pegasus made headlines by entering stud at Ashford for $150,000 in 2001. Also a son of Mr. Prospector, he sold for $4 million as a yearling during the 1998 Keeneland July Sale and went on to win the Kentucky Derby (G1). He was reportedly syndicated for between $60 million and $70 million.

As a freshman sire, Fusaichi Pegasus ranked third in the freshman sire class of 2004 by progeny earnings and was co-ranked second by number of stakes winners (six) along with leader Successful Appeal and one behind Bernstein. As a second-crop sire, he ranked second by progeny earnings to Giant's Causeway but led the class by number of stakes winners with 13.

Flightline was bred by Jane Lyon's Summer Wind Farm and raced by Summer Wind in partnership with Hronis Racing, Siena Farm, West Point Thoroughbreds, and Woodford Racing. He was trained by John Sadler and ridden in all six of his starts by Flavien Prat.

In addition to the Breeders' Cup Classic, Flightline won the TVG Pacific Classic Stakes (G1), the Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap (G1) and the Runhappy Malibu Stakes (G1). He is the world's highest-rated racehorse in 2022 on a figure of 139, and is the highest-rated dirt horse of all time. Flightline retires with $4,514,800 in earnings.