{"id":229655,"date":"2022-08-31T22:21:19","date_gmt":"2022-09-01T03:21:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/?p=229655"},"modified":"2022-09-01T16:51:32","modified_gmt":"2022-09-01T21:51:32","slug":"flightline-seeks-to-make-breeders-cup-classic-case-saturday-at-del-mar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/flightline-seeks-to-make-breeders-cup-classic-case-saturday-at-del-mar\/","title":{"rendered":"Flightline Seeks to Make Breeders Cup Classic Case Saturday at Del Mar"},"content":{"rendered":"

A key race leading up to November\u2019s Breeders\u2019 Cup Classic takes place at Del Mar on Saturday.<\/p>\n

\"Flightline\"<\/a>
Flightline wins in his 2022 debut by a convincing six lengths in the June 9 Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park. The John Sadler-trained 4-year-old colt, considered by many as the best horse currently racing, is the 1-5 morning line favorite in Saturday’s Pacific Classic at Del Mar. (Image: Susie Raisher\/NYRA)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Flightline heads a field of six for the Pacific Classic at the Southern California track. Though lightly raced \u2013 the 4-year-old will make just his fifth career start Saturday \u2013 many consider the John Sadler-trained colt the best horse in racing. He’s won each of his races in dominating fashion. He won all three of his 3-year-old races by at least 11-1\/2 lengths, and the Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park<\/a> in June by six lengths.<\/p>\n

\n

Despite never racing more than a mile, bettors have little doubt that the Tapit-sired colt can go the 1-1\/4 miles in the Breeders\u2019 Cup Classic. Earlier this month, in the pari-mutuel futures pool for the Classic, Flightline ended with 2-1 odds, making him the clear favorite.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Saturday\u2019s Pacific Classic will give Flightline a chance to show if he can be as dominant at the 1-1\/4 mile distance and handle two turns. The race for 3-year-olds and up is also a \u201cWin and You\u2019re In\u201d race, meaning the winner earns an automatic spot in the Nov. 5 Breeders\u2019 Cup Classic at Keeneland in Lexington, KY.<\/p>\n

Flightline ‘Essentially Ready’<\/h2>\n

Flightline landed in the fifth gate in Tuesday\u2019s post position draw. Track handicappers installed him as the 1-5 morning line favorite. Those odds tie the shortest odds given in the 32-year history of the race. Cigar got those odds ahead of the 1996 running. The public bet him down to 1-10 as he sought his 17th straight win. However, the legendary horse lost to Dare and Go, a 39-1 shot.<\/p>\n

Jockey Flavian Prat will fly in from New York to get the mount.<\/p>\n

Last Saturday, Sadler had Flightline go through what he called a \u201csoft\u201d workout in his final tune-up for this week\u2019s race. The horse ran five furlongs in:59.6, the fifth-best time of all workouts at that distance on that day.<\/p>\n

Sadler deemed the horse \u201cessentially ready,\u201d and noted Flightline produced the time \u201ceffortlessly.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

That\u2019s what\u2019s so exciting,\u201d<\/strong> Sadler said after the final workout. \u201cYou look at the works and think, \u2018Oh, he\u2019s working fast,\u2019 but in reality, he\u2019s well within himself.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The biggest challenger to Flightline will likely be Country Grammer. The 5-year-old horse, trained by Bob Baffert, ran second in the July 30 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar. John Velazquez will ride Country Grammer, who has 4-1 morning line odds and will break from the second gate.<\/p>\n

Other horses entered in the Pacific Classic are Extra Hope (30-1, first gate), Royal Ship (8-1, third gate), Express Train (12-1, fourth gate), and Stilleto Boy (20-1, sixth gate).<\/p>\n

Breeders’ Cup Classic Futures Pool Starts Friday<\/h2>\n

The second round of futures betting will take place on the Breeders\u2019 Cup Classic starting Friday. Flightline enters that pool as the 5-2 morning line favorite.<\/p>\n

But the gap might be a little narrower than it was a month ago. Epicenter, who finished the first round at 7-1 as the third choice, is the second choice this time with 7-2 morning line odds. Last weekend, he pulled out a convincing win in the Travers Stakes<\/a> at Saratoga.<\/p>\n

Life Is Good, a 4-year-old Todd Pletcher-trained colt and winner in five of his last six starts, is the third choice on the morning line at 4-1.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The futures pool \u2013 full field available here<\/a> \u2013 runs through Monday. Betting is available at participating advanced deposit wagering sites, tracks, off-track betting centers, and simulcasting facilities.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A key race leading up to November\u2019s Breeders\u2019 Cup Classic takes place at Del Mar on Saturday. Flightline heads a field of six for the Pacific Classic at the Southern California track. Though lightly raced \u2013 the 4-year-old will make just his fifth career start Saturday \u2013 many consider the John Sadler-trained colt the best […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":45,"featured_media":229656,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[14577,16],"tags":[82603,82601,82602,81900,82033],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nFlightline Seeks to Make Breeders Cup Classic Case Saturday at Del Mar - Casino.org<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A key race leading up to November\u2019s Breeders\u2019 Cup Classic takes place at Del Mar on Saturday. 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