Barn Tour: Sadler's Flightline is on the mend, Tripoli gears up

Arcadia, Calif.

After a blockbuster start to the Santa Anita meet via Fightline’s performance in the Dec. 26 Malibu (G1), the John Sadler barn has settled in and hit at 14 percent (10 for 72) with one other stakes tally during the stand.

The biggest news to emerge from Sadler’s shedrow since opening day was a physical “setback” to Flightline revealed Feb. 13 that has kept him out of training. The injury, which was diagnosed as a strained hock, will force Flightline to miss a planned start in the March 5 San Carlos (G2). 

On Wednesday at Santa Anita, Sadler said things were progressing nicely with the unbeaten colt and that he likely would return to the track at the beginning of March.

“He’s walking twice a day at the barn. We’re in good shape,” Sadler said. “We don’t have a timeline (for a next start), which is what everyone wants. I’m not ready to do that. But things are going well.”

He added a strained hock “is a little different kind of an injury."

“It’s kind of hard to explain, but it’s a setback more than anything. I have to wait it out,” Sadler said.

Flightline improved to 3-for-3 when romping by 11 1/2 lengths and popping a season-best 118 Beyer Speed Figure in the seven-furlong Malibu. The son of Tapit, who was a $1 million auction purchase as a yearling, won his first two starts by a combined 26 lengths.

While Sadler declined to speculate on a return spot for Flightline, he previously has indicated the May 7 Churchill Downs Stakes (G1) on the Kentucky Derby undercard could be in play. That could be used as a launching pad to the Metropolitan Handicap (G1), Flightline’s stated objective for the first half of the year, five weeks later on the Belmont Stakes undercard.

In addition to Flightline, Sadler also provided updates on four other of his stakes horses.

Grade 1 winner Tripoli returned to Santa Anita last week after spending the winter at the farm. He could begin breezing next week, with the major goal of his 5-year-old season being a defense of his title in the Pacific Classic (G1), which this year has been pushed back to Sept. 3. 

“He’s back and been on the track for about a week,” Sadler said. “Hopefully he will get one start here before Del Mar.”

Tripoli emerged as one of the leading dirt horses on the circuit last year after making his first 11 starts on turf. When transitioning to the dirt, the Kitten's Joy horse blitzed an allowance field and was second in the San Diego Handicap (G2) before winning the million-dollar Pacific Classic. He closed the campaign with an off-the-board effort in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Sadler said the time off was needed after a campaign that pushed Tripoli's career earnings to $889,960 for Hronis Racing.

“He had to have his knees cleaned up a little bit, he had a spur in each knee,” Sadler explained of the layoff. “But all is right now to move forward.”

Sadler also has a pair of high-quality female sprinters ready for starts in Edgeway, runner-up to champion Ce Ce in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, and Livingmybestlife, who was third in the La Brea (G1) on opening day at Santa Anita.

Sadler has circled the $100,000 Las Flores (G3) at Santa Anita on Feb. 13 and the $200,000 Carousel at Oaklawn Park on April 2 as their likely landing spots. The question is who goes where. Both mares previously have had success at Oaklawn. Edgeway won last year’s Carousel and Livingmybestlife graduated there last spring.

“We’ll send one to Oaklawn and keep one here in Los Angeles,” Sadler said.

While Edgeway and Livingmybestlife will remain in stakes company, graded-stakes placed Park Avenue will abandon the sprint division and receive class relief for a two-turn start next out. The 4-year-old Quality Road filly was cut back in distance for the seven-furlong Santa Monica (G2) on Feb. 5 and was no match when beaten double-digit lengths by winner Merneith.

Prior to that effort, Park Avenue was second in the La Cañada (G2) going 1 1/16 miles.

“I’m going to look for a (second-level allowance) and go long with her,” Sadler said.