No Surprise: Flightline Named Champion Older Dirt Male

Image: 
Description: 

Photo: Skip Dickstein
Flightline, under a smiling Flavien Prat, pulls away for an easy victory in the 2022 Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland

In a talented older dirt horse division that counted Life Is Good   and Olympiad   among its stars, Flightline was in a class of his own in 2022.

The son of Tapit   was honored with his first Eclipse Award Jan. 26 at The Breakers Palm Beach in South Florida, a landslide winner in voting for North America's champion older dirt horse. Going undefeated in three grade 1 races in 2022, in which he had an average margin of victory of more than 11 lengths, propelled him to honors.


Owned in partnership by Woodford Racing, Hronis Racing, Siena Farm, West Point Thoroughbreds, and breeder Jane Lyon of Summer Wind Equine, Flightline made a North American-topping $4.255 million in 2022. Flavien Prat was aboard throughout in 2022, as he was for three earlier starts in 2021 for trainer John Sadler.

Missing almost the first half of the year after straining a hock and being given time to recover, he kicked off his year with a victory in the June 11 Metropolitan Handicap (G1) at Belmont Park, winning by six lengths over Happy Saver  .

The California-based Sadler then set his sights on the Sept. 3 Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar with Flightline, who, in his first start around two turns, delivered an even more lopsided score, romping by 19 1/4 lengths over Dubai World Cup (G1) winner Country Grammer . His margin of victory was the largest in Pacific Classic history, and he sizzled 1 1/4 miles in 1:59.28.

Sign up for

Next came a showdown against Life Is Good and six other grade 1 winners in the Nov. 5 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Keeneland. Perched just behind Life Is Good through blazing fractions, he took over exiting the second turn, and drew away for an 8 1/4-length triumph over Olympiad and Taiba . Flightline blitzed 1 1/4 miles under a confident Prat in 2:00.05, a time that, just like his clocking in the Pacific Classic, was nearly a record.

"Flavien has a lot of confidence in this horse. Always has, and I think that confidence is warranted," said West Point Thoroughbreds founder and president Terry Finley after the Classic.

Flightline's championship provided Hronis Racing and Sadler with their second Eclipse Award in the older dirt male division after Accelerate  's success in 2018. 

Reflecting on Flightline's brilliance, an emotional Sadler said at the post-race press conference, "He's a culmination of your life's work. Most trainers don't get a horse like this. I'm feeling very blessed."