Unbeaten Flightline runs away for a Classic victory
Unbeaten Flightline posted another dominating run, overtaking Life Is Good entering the top of the stretch and pulling away to an 8 1⁄4-length victory in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Saturday at Keeneland, and all but locking up honors as Horse of the Year.
The 4-year-old bay colt entered the Grade 1 race 5-0 lifetime with an average victory margin of nearly 13 lengths, making him the overwhelming 3-5 favorite over the eighthorse field that included Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike and 5-1 second choice Epicenter. Flightline went off at 2-5 from the No. 4 post and soon established himself as among the pacesetters, running within reach of Todd Pletcher-trained Life Is Good through the far turn but moving up.
John Sadler’s pupil eventually passed Life Is Good at the stretch and soon had a two-length gap that steadily grew from there. Olympiad soon overtook Life Is Good with Bob Baffert-trained Taiba gaining, though both were far behind the horse who has earned lofty comparisons to legendary Triple Crown champion Secretariat.
Ridden by Flavien Part, Flightline covered the 1 1⁄4 miles in 2:00.05 and paid $2.88, $2.92 and $2.30.
Olympiad returned $12.38 and $7.16 for place and Taiba paid $4 to show.
While Pletcher came up short in the Classic, filly Malathaat provided the day’s most exciting finish by winning the $2 million Distaff by nose over Stripe and Clairiere and in a three-wide photo finish.
The 2021 3-year-old champion filly and 3-1 choice surged from the middle between the final turns and was on the outside among five horses in the stretch before she broke free with Clairiere to her left and Blue Stripe on the rail over the final 100 yards. Malathaat eventually caught Clairiere and nosed past Blue Stripe at the wire, which replay confirmed.
Third in last year’s Distaff, Malathaat this time paid $7.76, $4.04 and $3 for her fourth win this year and 10th in 13 career races. Blue Stripe was second by a nose over Clairiere.
● Two horses, including A one trained by embattled Hall of Famer Baffert, were observed for medical issues after being pulled up in separate races during the Breeders’ Cup.
Baffert-trained Messier, competing for the first time since finishing 19th in the Kentucky Derby, was pulled up after the second race after jockey John Velazquez observed bleeding. The 3-year-old colt was taken to the barn for evaluation and was stable and comfortable.
British gelding Domestic Spending was pulled up by jockey Prat just off the far turn during the $2 million Mile after appearing off with his left hind limb.
FRIDAY’S RACES
Forte made a case as the year’s top 2-year-old, and Wonder Wheel as the best 2-year-old filly.
Forte won the the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and Wonder Wheel took the Juvenile Fillies on Friday at Keeneland. Forte served notice with 1 1⁄2-length victory over Cave Rock, while Wonder Wheel rallied from the back to win by three lengths over Leave No Trace.
Victoria Road won the Juvenile Turf by a nose over Silver Knott to end the day. Mischief Magic won Juvenile Turf Sprint by a length, and Meditate claimed the Juvenile Fillies Turf by 2 1⁄2 lengths.
Forte turned it on entering the stretch, racing past Cave Rock at the eighth pole to claim his third consecutive victory as a 2-year-old, perhaps solidifying his credentials for Horse of the Year honors. Mike Repole, whose stable co-owns the horse with Florida Panthers owner Vincent Viola, was giddy over his good fortune, just five months after he won the Belmont Stakes with Mo Donegal.