Like a bolt of lightning, Flightline was lighting up the sky one moment and gone the next. A day after the 4yo son of Tapit kept his perfect record intact with an 8-length romp in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Keeneland, connections announced his retirement to Lane's End Farm.
"We would like to thank trainer John Sadler and his team for the incredible work they did with Flightline," Bill Farish of Lane's End told Blood-Horse.
"His historic performances are a credit to their expertise and unwavering efforts to bring out the very best in the horse."
Flightline won all six starts under Flavien Prat highlighted by Grade 1 wins in the Breeders' Cup Classic, Pacific Classic Stakes, Metropolitan Handicap, and Malibu Stakes (G1).
Happy Saver, who was over 18 lengths behind Flightline in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, can boast coming the closest to the son of Tapit, when six lengths adrift in the Metropolitan at Belmont.
"He's got to be up there with the best of all time," Lane’s End Farm’s Bill Farish said.
"To have the pedigree and looks he has on top of it is amazing."
West Point Thoroughbreds purchased Flightline for $1 million from the Lane's End consignment at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale.
He is out of the Indian Charlie mare Feathered, who the GrIII Edgewood Stakes at Churchill Downs and finished second in both the American Oaks (G1) and Starlet Stakes (G1) and third in the Frizette Stakes (G1).
She descends from Phipps family’s Matron Stakes and Acorn Stakes winner Finder's Fee (Storm Cat), a daughter of the Grade1-winner Fantastic Find (Mr Prospector) a half-sister to Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Dancing Spree (Nijinsky).
