Summer Wind to Retain Yearling Half-Brother to Flightline

Following Flightline (Tapit)'s jaw-dropping victory in the GI Pacific Classic at Del Mar Saturday, breeder Jane Lyon of Summer Wind Farm has decided to withdraw the star colt's half-brother by Curlin from next week's Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The yearling, who is named Eagles Flight, had been catalogued as hip 243 with the Lane's End consignment.

“I had a feeling when Flightline did what he did [in the Pacific Classic] that it was going to be pretty hard for her to part with him,” said Lane's End's Bill Farish, confirming the news first reported in Blood-Horse. “It's disappointing not to be able to sell him, but we totally understand the decision to keep him.”

Farish continued, “[Lyon]'s been on the fence for a long time about selling him. She loves all of her horses, but every year there are a few that really grab her. And this one always has. It's tough because she loves to sell them well, too, but this is one that is just hard to part with.”

Flightline is out of multiple Grade I placed Feathered (Indian Charlie), who was purchased by Summer Wind for $2.35 million at the 2016 Keeneland November sale. The mare produced a filly by Into Mischief this year and was bred back to Tapit.

Feathered's 3-year-old colt by Pioneerof the Nile, Voron, was exported to Russia after selling for $100,000 at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton October sale, and her 2-year-old colt by Tapit, Olivier, RNA'd for $390,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale. Olivier worked five furlongs in 1:02.20 (17/27) at Keeneland last Friday.

Flightline, who races for a partnership which includes Summer Wind, as well as Hronis Racing, Siena Farm, West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing, sold for $1 million at the 2019 Saratoga sale.

Asked to compare the yearling to Flightline, Farish said, “They are both outstanding colts. This colt has a lot more Curlin in him. He is a stronger-made–not that Flightline's not–but Flightline is longer and this is more of a Curlin type. But he is really an outstanding-looking individual.”