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Jockey Flavien Prat riding Flightline wins the Malibu Stakes Grade 1 contention during Opening time of the winter-spring conscionable astatine Santa Anita Park successful Arcadia connected Sunday, December 26, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
A instrumentality cheers connected Jockey Flavien Prat riding Flightline arsenic helium wins the Malibu Stakes Grade 1 contention during Opening time of the winter-spring conscionable astatine Santa Anita Park successful Arcadia connected Sunday, December 26, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Jockey Flavien Prat riding Flightline wins the Malibu Stakes Grade 1 contention during Opening time of the winter-spring conscionable astatine Santa Anita Park successful Arcadia connected Sunday, December 26, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Opening time of the winter-spring conscionable astatine Santa Anita Park successful Arcadia connected Sunday, December 26, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Jockey Flavien Prat riding Flightline wins the Malibu Stakes Grade 1 contention during Opening time of the winter-spring conscionable astatine Santa Anita Park successful Arcadia connected Sunday, December 26, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Horse racing fans dressed up for the time during Opening time of the winter-spring conscionable astatine Santa Anita Park successful Arcadia connected Sunday, December 26, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Jockey John Valezquez riding Eight Rings finished 3rd successful the San Antonio Stakes (Grade II) contention during Opening time of the winter-spring conscionable astatine Santa Anita Park successful Arcadia connected Sunday, December 26, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Jockey Victor Espinoza riding Express Train reacts aft winning the San Antonio Stakes (Grade II) contention during Opening time of the winter-spring conscionable astatine Santa Anita Park successful Arcadia connected Sunday, December 26, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Trainer Bob Baffert looks connected during Opening time of the winter-spring conscionable astatine Santa Anita Park successful Arcadia connected Sunday, December 26, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
A outrider is silhouetted with his equine during Opening time of the winter-spring conscionable astatine Santa Anita Park successful Arcadia connected Sunday, December 26, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Jockey Victor Espinoza riding Express Train boots aft winning the San Antonio Stakes (Grade II) contention during Opening time of the winter-spring conscionable astatine Santa Anita Park successful Arcadia connected Sunday, December 26, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
John Velazquez (6) riding Shaaz wins the 4th contention of the time during Opening time of the winter-spring conscionable astatine Santa Anita Park successful Arcadia connected Sunday, December 26, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Jockey Victor Espinoza riding Express Train reacts aft winning the San Antonio Stakes (Grade II) contention during Opening time of the winter-spring conscionable astatine Santa Anita Park successful Arcadia connected Sunday, December 26, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Opening time of the winter-spring conscionable astatine Santa Anita Park successful Arcadia connected Sunday, December 26, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
John Velazquez (6) riding Shaaz wins the 4th contention of the time during Opening time of the winter-spring conscionable astatine Santa Anita Park successful Arcadia connected Sunday, December 26, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Horse racing fans marque their mode retired of the expansive stands during Opening time of the winter-spring conscionable astatine Santa Anita Park successful Arcadia connected Sunday, December 26, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
A outrider makes his mode toward the stables during Opening time of the winter-spring conscionable astatine Santa Anita Park successful Arcadia connected Sunday, December 26, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Opening time of the winter-spring conscionable astatine Santa Anita Park successful Arcadia connected Sunday, December 26, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Horn Blower Jay Cohen does a magic instrumentality for fans during Opening time of the winter-spring conscionable astatine Santa Anita Park successful Arcadia connected Sunday, December 26, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Musical enactment during Opening time of the winter-spring conscionable astatine Santa Anita Park successful Arcadia connected Sunday, December 26, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Trainer Bob Baffert looks connected during Opening time of the winter-spring conscionable astatine Santa Anita Park successful Arcadia connected Sunday, December 26, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Hundreds of fans enactment the paddock country during Opening time of the winter-spring conscionable astatine Santa Anita Park successful Arcadia connected Sunday, December 26, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Stuffed horses look connected during Opening time of the winter-spring conscionable astatine Santa Anita Park successful Arcadia connected Sunday, December 26, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Hundreds of fans enactment the paddock country during Opening time of the winter-spring conscionable astatine Santa Anita Park successful Arcadia connected Sunday, December 26, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
A instrumentality leaves the way astatine the extremity of the time during Opening time of the winter-spring conscionable astatine Santa Anita Park successful Arcadia connected Sunday, December 26, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Jockey Jose Valdez riding Bob and Jackie wins the San Gabriel Stakes (Grade II) arsenic jockey Jose Ortiz riding Friar’s Road finished 2nd during Opening time of the winter-spring conscionable astatine Santa Anita Park successful Arcadia connected Sunday, December 26, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Jockey Victor Espinoza riding Express Train reacts aft winning the San Antonio Stakes (Grade II) contention during Opening time of the winter-spring conscionable astatine Santa Anita Park successful Arcadia connected Sunday, December 26, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Jockey Jose Valdez riding Bob and Jackie wins the San Gabriel Stakes (Grade II) arsenic jockey Jose Ortiz riding Friar’s Road finished 2nd during Opening time of the winter-spring conscionable astatine Santa Anita Park successful Arcadia connected Sunday, December 26, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Hundreds of cars enactment the parking batch during Opening time of the winter-spring conscionable astatine Santa Anita Park successful Arcadia connected Sunday, December 26, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
A instrumentality looks implicit the racing programme during Opening time of the winter-spring conscionable astatine Santa Anita Park successful Arcadia connected Sunday, December 26, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Jockey John Velazquez (3) riding Kalypso wins the La Brea Stakes (Grade 1) during Opening time of the winter-spring conscionable astatine Santa Anita Park successful Arcadia connected Sunday, December 26, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Horse racing fans are silhouetted arsenic they locomotion done the expansive stands during Opening time of the winter-spring conscionable astatine Santa Anita Park successful Arcadia connected Sunday, December 26, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Jockey Victor Espinoza riding Express Train wins the San Antonio Stakes (Grade II) contention during Opening time of the winter-spring conscionable astatine Santa Anita Park successful Arcadia connected Sunday, December 26, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Jockey Victor Espinoza (2) riding Express Train wins the San Antonio Stakes (Grade II) contention during Opening time of the winter-spring conscionable astatine Santa Anita Park successful Arcadia connected Sunday, December 26, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Jockey Victor Espinoza riding Express Train reacts aft winning the San Antonio Stakes (Grade II) contention during Opening time of the winter-spring conscionable astatine Santa Anita Park successful Arcadia connected Sunday, December 26, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Jockey Victor Espinoza (2) riding Express Train wins the San Antonio Stakes (Grade II) contention during Opening time of the winter-spring conscionable astatine Santa Anita Park successful Arcadia connected Sunday, December 26, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Jockey John Velazquez (3) riding Kalypso wins the La Brea Stakes (Grade 1) during Opening time of the winter-spring conscionable astatine Santa Anita Park successful Arcadia connected Sunday, December 26, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Jockey Jose Ortiz (9) riding Law Professor Santa Anita Mathis Mile (Grade II) during Opening time of the winter-spring conscionable astatine Santa Anita Park successful Arcadia connected Sunday, December 26, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Jockey Jose Ortiz (9) riding Law Professor Santa Anita Mathis Mile (Grade II) during Opening time of the winter-spring conscionable astatine Santa Anita Park successful Arcadia connected Sunday, December 26, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Jockey Victor Espinoza (2) riding Express Train wins the San Antonio Stakes (Grade II) contention during Opening time of the winter-spring conscionable astatine Santa Anita Park successful Arcadia connected Sunday, December 26, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Horn Blower Jay Cohen performs during Opening time of the winter-spring conscionable astatine Santa Anita Park successful Arcadia connected Sunday, December 26, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Fans look connected during Opening time of the winter-spring conscionable astatine Santa Anita Park successful Arcadia connected Sunday, December 26, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
The Malibu Stakes Grade 1 contention during Opening time of the winter-spring conscionable astatine Santa Anita Park successful Arcadia connected Sunday, December 26, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
It’s confirmed: Not lone is Flightline the existent deal, but the athletics mightiness beryllium looking astatine its adjacent ace star.
There was overmuch buzz implicit the lad of Tapit aft helium won his archetypal 2 starts by a combined 26 lengths, earning 100-plus Beyer Speed Figures on the way. Trainer John Sadler called him the champion imaginable he’s ever had, and Sadler has been successful the concern for 43 years.
But immoderate held backmost enthusiasm due to the fact that Flightline had beaten lone maidens and optional claimers. What would helium bash erstwhile facing stakes-caliber horses?
What Flightline did was dainty them arsenic if they didn’t beryllium connected the aforesaid way with him, moving distant to an 11 1/2-length triumph arsenic the 2-5 favourite successful the $300,000 Grade I Malibu Stakes for 3-year-olds during Sunday’s opening time of Santa Anita’s 85th winter-spring meet.
He’s present won his 3 races by a combined 37 1/2 lengths and, erstwhile again, jockey Flavien Prat conscionable manus rode him to the wire. That’s becoming the norm for a equine that lone has to walk the two-turn trial present earlier we tin anoint him the adjacent large thing.
The two-turn trial volition beryllium next. Sadler said past week Flightline’s connections would statesman looking for a two-turn contention for their prima aft the Malibu.The superlatives were flowing aft the race.
“I was successful cruise power the full race, galloping freely. He was rather awesome … helium has been superb truthful far. He truly has been rather amazing,” Prat said.
Your turn, Mr. Sadler.
“This equine is truthful brilliant,” helium said. “This is not an mean horse. This is simply a precise peculiar horse. There is simply a batch of unit connected you, but it is the unit you want. It’s similar the precocious schoolhouse manager for LeBron (James). You cognize you person thing peculiar and helium is overmuch the best. This equine is there. You conscionable don’t privation to screw it up.”
And let’s fto the absorption measurement in.
“We were going precise accelerated early, and for Flightline to person that benignant of crook of ft aboriginal connected was precise impressive,” said Jose Ortiz Jr., who rode runner-up Baby Yoda (16-1). “My equine ran a winning contention anyplace else. If Flightline isn’t there, I win. He’s a freak.”
Freakish is simply a bully spot to start, aft the $1 cardinal acquisition turned successful fractions of 22.01, 44.48 and 1:08.72 en way to a gate-to-wire show that near adjacent the astir hardened equine players successful awe.
Final clip for the 7 furlongs was 1:21.37. By comparison, the 3-year-old fillies successful the La Brea Stakes tally 2 races earlier ran the region successful 1:24.78.
Said portion proprietor Bill Farish: “We hoped to triumph this, but to bash this against this benignant of field, this was the existent people trial for him and I deliberation helium answered it the mode we thought helium would.”
Another portion owner, Kosta Hronis of Hronis Racing, has been highly precocious connected Flightline since helium won his debut by 13 1/4 lengths astatine Santa Anita connected April 24.
“It’s ever large to spot a large contention equine enactment connected the contention way and tally arsenic agelong arsenic helium can,” Hronis said. “We anticipation we tin spot Flightline enactment up a terrific year.”
Going in, the Malibu was billed arsenic a lucifer contention betwixt Flightline and Dr. Schivel, who mislaid by a chemoreceptor successful past fall’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint astatine Del Mar and had won 2 Grade Is and a Grade II stakes during his eight-race career. But for immoderate reason, helium didn’t occurrence Sunday.
Dr. Schivel, ridden by Juan Hernandez, was sent postward arsenic the 7-2 2nd prime and finished past successful the seven-horse field. Trainer Bob Baffert’s unbeaten Triple Tap, disconnected astatine 5-1, ne'er threatened and finished fourth, 6 1/4 lengths down Stilleto Boy (19-1).
It was a immense time for jockey John Velazquez, who won 4 races aft moving his concern westbound for the archetypal time. He’s expected to instrumentality astir astatine slightest until the extremity of March.
Baffert won 3 races connected the 11-race card, including the La Brea with 8-1 outsider Kalypso.
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