Analysis: Life Is Good vs. Flightline has one clear outcome

Life Is Good and Flightline sit on top of the racing world as the two best dirt horses in the country. But as how the two stars lack a race against each other, it is natural to ponder the outcome if the runners met. Who is faster? Who would win a hypothetical matchup?

Although both horses are talented runners, from both a paper and visual standpoint, one horse is clearly faster.

For example, compare the best TimeformUS Speed Figures for each horse.

When Life Is Good captured the Pegasus World Cup Invitational last weekend at Gulfstream, he earned a 134 on TimeformUS for his second-highest speed figure. He earned a 110 Beyer Speed Figure as well. 

Life Is Good picked up his highest TimeformUS figure last year after losing an exciting stretch battle to the sharp Jackie’s Warrior in the H. Allen Jerkens Stakes (G1) at Saratoga. Despite the loss, Life Is Good earned an impressive 135, which was helped by his early pace work.

Those two speed figures represent Life Is Good at his best.

In contrast, Flightline earned an astonishing 135 on TimeformUS in only his second career start last September, when he dominated the field in a six-furlong allowance optional claiming race at Del Mar by 12 3/4 lengths. The scary part is that Flightline likely was not trying his best.  

More than three months later, on Dec. 26, Flightline made his graded-stakes debut in the Malibu Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita. He won by 11 lengths and improved his TimeformUS figure to a 141. That kind of lofty speed figure is almost unheard of. On TimeformUS, Flightline’s fastest race is six points higher than Life Is Good’s best, even though Life Is Good's best numbers already appear pretty fast.

From a visual standpoint, the way Flightline separated from the field in his three wins to this point is nothing short of incredible. In the Malibu, he accelerated under his own power in a machine-like fashion while switching leads perfectly. The way he moves is fluid without wasted motion. 

Life Is Good won the Pegasus by 3 1/4 lengths in the end. But he did not give the impression of a fluid machine moving under its own power. Instead, he needed his jockey to correct him as he tried to drift right in the stretch. Although Life Is Good still won the Pegasus, his motion in the stretch does not look as good as Flightline's motion. 

In fact, Flightline gives the impression of a special horse. From visuals alone, he wins the hypothetical battle between the two horses given his capability to crush a Grade 1 in a devastating manner.

In fairness to Life Is Good in the Pegasus, he had the probable Horse of the Year champion in Knicks Go behind him in the Pegasus World Cup. Then again, Flightline had Baby Yoda and Stilleto Boy complete his trifecta, and neither are slouches. Stilleto Boy went on to finish third in the Pegasus World Cup, while losing second to Knicks Go by only a length after giving him a battle in the stretch for the runner-up spot.

Regardless of the differences in competition from their last win, Flightline has been the faster horse. In fact, Flightline gives the impression that is he capable of setting records in the future. While Life Is Good might race more often than Flightline and win more races, he does not seem like a horse who can give historical performances. 

After all, Flightline is far less experienced and already shows a higher figure than Life Is Good without even trying his best. How much faster is Flightline if the jockey asks him in the stretch run for his best shot?

If the two horses ever meet in a race, there is enough evidence to conclude Flightline is the faster horse. Flightline projects to win over Life Is Good in a clean race. Even though Life Is Good has been solid and ultra-consistent at his job, a healthy Flightline is capable of turning in the kind of performances that fans will keep watching for decades.