Unbeaten Flightline fave in BC Classic

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Comparisons of Flightline to legendary Triple Crown champion Secretariat may initially sound like a stretch, though they offer a hint about his dominance.

The 4-year-old bay colt has yet to lose in five starts, and four of his wins have been by double-digit lengths. All told, Flightline has won by a whopping 63 lengths combined, including a 19¹/₄-length romp in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic Stakes at Del Mar on Sept. 3.

No wonder he enters the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Saturday at Keeneland as the 3-5 favorite, which speaks volumes considering the impressive group of contenders vying for Horse of the Year honors. Flightline drew the No. 4 post position among eight horses for the 1¹/ ₄-mile race on dirt but given his stellar resume, trainer John Sadler is confident about any place his pupil runs from, at any distance.

The eight-horse Grade 1 Classic is the marquee event among nine second-day stakes races at Keeneland. The forecast features a 40 percent chance of rain but with temperatures in the mid-70s. Post time is 5:40 p.m. Eastern.

Breeders’ Cup Friday races

Some explosive late runs on Future Stars Friday. Mischief Magic ($15.84) rallied from last of 12 to win the Sprint. Wonder Wheel ($15) closed from 11 horses back to take the Juvenile Fillies. Meditate ($6.08) won the Fillies Turf after falling well back early.

A huge upset in the the Juvenile as Forte ($12.04) outkicked heavily favored Cave Rock. And Victoria Road ($13.14) powered late to take the Turf.