Flightline to bypass the Breeders' Cup Sprint, point to Malibu

Flightline, brilliant winner of his only two starts for trainer John Sadler, will bypass the Nov. 6 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar and will instead await the $300,000 Malibu Stakes (G1) for 3-year-old going seven furlongs on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita.

By Tapit out of graded-stakes winner Feathered, Flightline won his debut back in April at Santa Anita by 13 1/4 lengths when completing six furlongs in a swift 1:08.75. He subsequently suffered a bruised foot when sent to Del Mar for the summer that delayed his training and pushed his second start until Sept. 5.

For his encore, Flightline returned in a first-level allowance going six furlongs at Del Mar and aired by 12 3/4 lengths under Flavien Prat. The final time of 1:08.05 was less than a half-second off the track record set in 1973. The effort earned a 114 Beyer Speed Figure, according to Daily Racing Form, tied for the highest of the year for any horse.

On Wednesday, Sadler told Horse Racing Nation that a horse with the brilliance of Flightline generally prefers more time between races. Given the colt's lack of seasoning, he said it would be most prudent to skip the Breeders’ Cup this year and instead try to bag a Grade 1 against his generation in the Malibu.

“His numbers are so low, that’s rare air,” Sadler said, referring to his performance ratings from the likes of Thoro-Graph and Ragozin. “With a horse like that, you want to make sure you don’t run him back real quick.”

Flightline was a $1 million auction purchase as a yearling by West Point Thoroughbreds. He is campaigned by Hronis Racing, West Point, Summer Wind Equine, Siena Farm and Woodford Racing.