24 minute read

Breeders’ Cup Classic Champion Spotlight:

FLIGHTLINE: WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN...

by ERIC FLOYD

Eric Floyd is a veteran turf writer who passionately promotes thoroughbred race horse aftercare. An excerpt from his all for charity thoroughbred horse racing novel, “Heaven’s Premier Horse Race” can be viewed at Amazon.com.

Even though my contemporaries wouldn’t go as far as to label me an “old timer”, the truth is; I have been meticulously following thoroughbred horse racing for well over a quarter-century. Correspondingly, you can believe me when I say that inside of this epoch, I have beheld some equines that literally took my breath away. Specifically, horses like: Awesome Again, Smarty Jones, Ghostzapper, Zenyatta, Arrogate, American Pharoah and Justify, just to name a few. That said, it’s my humble opinion that none of the aforementioned racers are worthy to be mentioned in the same breath as your 2022 Breeders’ Cup Classic Champion; Flightline.

Retired behind accumulating six wins from as many starts, Flightline transcends the moniker of “undefeated” because he is the only elite race horse I know of who was likewise “untested” throughout the duration of his career. In fact, Flightline’s slimmest winning margin was a gaudy six length gap (this after a tardy start) in Belmont Park’s 2022 1-mile $1 million Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap. Conversely, we have the undefeated (likewise six for six) Justify (your 2018 Triple Crown Champion) who was basically “saved by the wire” in the Preakness Stakes from an “average Joe” named Bravazo.

As a two-year old, Flightline inexplicably gouged himself on a stall latch. This gruesome injury coupled with some other physical setbacks (which occurred early on in his three-year old season) cancelled out all hope associated with qualifying for the 147th Kentucky Derby. Hence, Flightline was ultimately cleared for takeoff on April 24th, 2021 at Santa Anita Park in a six furlong (¾ of a mile) $62,000 Maiden Special Weight

race. Owning a “bird’s-eye view” that witnessed an obliteration of six rivals by 13 ¼ lengths, track announcer Frank Mirahmadi thus divulged, “What a dazzling display at first asking! A potential star here! Flightline wins by double digits while wrapped up!” Any thoughts pertaining to Flightline’s first race being a fluke were emphatically erased four months later at Del Mar Racetrack. It was there on September 5th, 2021 where trainer John Sadler’s star pupil pulverized a quintet of opponents by 12 ¾ lengths in a six furlong $40,000 Optional Claiming event. Conclusively closing out his three-year old campaign with a bang in late December, Flightline cantered home to win by 11 ½ lengths in Santa Anita Park’s seven furlong (7/8th’s of a mile) $300,000 Grade 1 Malibu Stakes.

Since extensive intervals of rest seemed to be an effective elixir, John Sadler didn’t commence Flightline’s four-year old season until June 11th, 2022. Putting himself “behind the 8-ball” due to a tortoise-like start, the “odds-on” (less than even money) favorite in the aforementioned Metropolitan Handicap was consequently forced to uncharacteristically “rate” behind the well regarded Speaker’s Corner for the better part of four furlongs (½ a mile). Soon showing his adoring public that he simply scoffed in the face of adversity, Flightline subsequently drew off to win the “Met Mile” in a sizzling time of 1:33.40 seconds.

The big question surrounding Flightline as he entered the starting gate for Del Mar Racetrack’s $1 million Grade 1 Pacific Classic was whether or not he could “stay” thoroughbred horse racing’s “classic distance” of ten furlongs (1 ¼ miles). In hindsight, we can see with 20/20 vision that this bay colored son of the sensational sire Tapit actually desired to “run all day”. In what was likely the most dominant performance since Secretariat’s 31 length victory in the 1973 Belmont Stakes, Flightline ultimately carved out 20 lengths In what would be the final start of his career, Flightline entered Keenland Racetrack’s starting gate as the overwhelming 2/5 favorite for the 1 ¼ mile $6 million Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic. Behind tracking speedster Life Is Good for the majority of the contest, the Breeders’ Cup’s most popular participant romped through the stretch en route to an 8 ¼ length score. Conclusively awarded 60% of the race’s purse due to their equine’s extraordinary effort, Flightline’s ownership group accordingly pocketed perhaps the easiest $3.6 million bucks in the history of thoroughbred horse racing!

So now that we have chronicled Flightline’s remarkable resume, we confront the logical question of, “Where does he rank all time?” Well before I attempt to answer this, I’d like to throw out two more

Photo courtesy of Carolyn Simancik/Eclipse Sportswire/Breeders Cup

startling statistics. The first is the staggering reality that Flightline went off at odds of 0.45 or below in five of his six starts. The second supplementary stat worth mentioning speaks to the point that Flightline was awarded a Beyer Speed Figure of 126 for his prized performance in the Pacific Classic. (This is the 4th highest number given out since the Daily Racing Form started publishing Beyer Speed Figures in 1991.)

In back of thinking long and hard about where Flightline rightly belongs in the long and storied annals of thoroughbred horse racing history, I have settled on the following (probably controversial) conclusion; “He could have been the greatest race horse of all time”. I say “could have” because at day’s end, Flightline’s comprehensive body of work is simply too small for him to ever supplant those immortal names like: Secretariat, Citation and Man o’ War. (Incidentally, the aforementioned equine magnates made a total of: 21, 45 and 21 starts respectfully.)

While the following is pure fantasy, I thought it would be fun to plot out a hypothetical scenario for 2023 that could’ve legitimately landed Flightline in the ever evolving conversation which centers on, “Who is thoroughbred horse racing’s G.O.A.T.?” (Greatest Of All Time). For starters, suppose Flightline began the year by easily bagging Gulfstream Park’s $3 million Pegasus World Cup? Moving forward, let’s say this score was followed up by effortless victories in both the $20 million Saudi Cup and the $12 million Dubai World Cup. In back of a well deserved three month break, imagine that Flightline subsequently “repeated” in both Belmont Park’s $1 million Metropolitan Handicap and Del Mar Racetrack’s $1 million Pacific Classic. Finally, let’s visualize Flightline’s descent on Santa Anita Park in early November where he becomes only the second equine to go “back-to-back” in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. (Tiznow 2000-2001)

Now, it goes without saying that I just listed an ample amount of “what ifs”. Be that as it may, I truly believe (assuming he stayed healthy) that the preceding theoretical would have been well within Flightline’s reach. As a result, 2022’s “Horse of the Year” could’ve then galloped off towards the stud barn at the end of 2023 with the supplementary moniker of “Thoroughbred Horse Racing’s G.O.A.T.”

As a concluding thought, I wanted to mention that Flightline’s ownership group ultimately faced the extraordinary difficult decision of either: manufacturing millions of dollars via the stud barn or embarking on a 2023 race campaign that could’ve conceivably christened Flightline, “Histories’ Greatest Race Horse”. (Quite obviously, the justifiable fear of a life threatening injury sustained during competition no doubt played heavily into this decision making process.) Let it be known though that if the choice had been mine, I would have vehemently pursued the “Greatest of All-Time” title rather than the referenced “studfee” monies (…and I really don’t care if you call me a liar). Alas, whenever I hear the name Flightline for the rest of my days, I will always automatically conjure up a thought anent to, “What could have been…”

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THE RESULTS ARE IN

2022 GAMING & DESTINATIONS READERS’ CHOICE AWARD WINNERS

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1. North Star Mohican

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North Star Mohican Casino Resort

Voted the Grandest Players Club in Minnesota,15 years and counting!

We are thrilled to be voted the Best Players Club in Minnesota! It is an honor to have won this year, and numerous times in the past! We’re always motivated to consistently bring the best experiences to Grand Rewards™ members. A huge thank you to all the readers who voted for us. We couldn’t have done it without you.

Not a member yet? Sign up for Grand Rewards Players Club at Grand Casino for access to endless benefits and exclusive members-only perks at both casino locations. Visit our website at grandcasinomn.com to learn more.

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