John Sadler

The long-anticipated return of undefeated superstar Flightline draws more excitement by the day, especially now that the John Sadler-trained son of Tapit has arrived at Belmont Park in preparation for Saturday's GI Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan H. Terry Finley, whose West Point Thoroughbreds campaigns Flightline along with Hronis Racing, Siena Farm, Summer Wind Equine and Woodford Racing, has been counting down the days until the Met Mile for quite some time. Finley joined this week's TDN Writers' Room presented by Keeneland as the Green Group Guest of the Week to...

The unbeaten sensation Flightline (Tapit) has been cleared for takeoff. Last seen making it a perfect three-for-three with a gaudy 118 Beyer Speed Figure in Santa Anita's GI Runhappy Malibu S. Dec. 26, Flightline will launch his highly anticipated 4-year-old campaign in the GI Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan H. on the completely stacked GI Belmont S. undercard June 11. "We're at that stage where he's all ready," trainer John Sadler said. "He's doing really well. He hasn't missed a beat. We just have to get to next week and get...

West Point Thoroughbreds, Edwin Barker and William Sandbrook's Elector (Constitution), two-for-three in his young career, will take his first shot in stakes company against five rivals in the GII Triple Bend S. Sunday at Santa Anita. Making just one start as a 3-year-old, on Dec. 26, the $65,000 Keeneland September buy stumbled early and raced greenly en route to a last-place run. Coming back at this seven-furlong trip Feb. 22, the bay was away much better and ran away to a 4 3/4-length graduation, earning a gaudy 97 Beyer. The...

Undefeated 'TDN Rising Star' and jaw-dropping GI Runhappy Malibu S. winner Flightline (Tapit) returned to the track at Santa Anita Saturday after a strain in his hock forced him to miss a planned start in Saturday's GII San Carlos S. "He jogged a mile which is pretty routine," trainer John Sadler said. "We think his setback is over and he's back to training." Flightline, campaigned in partnership by the powerhouse line-up of Hronis Racing, Siena Farm, Summer Wind Equine, West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing, made it a perfect three-for-three...

Kentucky West Racing and Clarke Cooper's Classic Causeway stamped himself as a major GI Kentucky Derby contender Saturday when convincingly taking the GIII Sam F. Davis S. at Tampa Bay Downs for trainer Brian Lynch, and Tuesday, Lynch joined the TDN Writers' Room presented by Keeneland. Sitting down with Joe Bianca and Bill Finley as the Green Group Guest of the Week, Lynch talked about his colt--one of the final horses by late superstar sire Giant's Causeway--provided updates on other top horses in his barn, reminisced about his time spent...

The undefeated sensation Flightline (Tapit), last seen thumping his rivals in the GI Runhappy Malibu S. at Santa Anita Dec. 26, may return to the races sooner than later and one possible spot where he could have his next start is the seven-furlong GI Churchill Downs S. May 7, the day of the GI Kentucky Derby. Appearing on this week's TDN Writers' Room podcast, trainer John Sadler said he did not think the injury suffered by the 'TDN Rising Star' would keep him sidelined for long. Sadler announced last week...

Unbeaten 'TDN Rising Star' and jaw-dropping GI Runhappy Malibu S. winner Flightline (Tapit) has had a setback and will miss an intended start in the GII San Carlos S. at Santa Anita Mar. 5. "He had a little bit of a strain in his hock," trainer John Sadler said on TVG. "The good news is the X-rays are negative. He's not going to work tomorrow. He's not going to run in the San Carlos. But it's not a big thing. He's a little bit off pattern." Sadler added, "There's no...

Darby Dan Farm's Higher Power (Medaglia d'Oro), a Grade I-winning millionaire, sired his first reported foal Jan. 26 when a filly bred by Deann Barr out of the Curlin mare Curlita was born at Julie Rini's Crowning Point Farm. Higher Power, a dominant 5 1/4-length winner of the 2019 GI Pacific Classic with a 107 Beyer Speed Figure, earned nearly $1.6 million and placed in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic, GI Hollywood Gold Cup and GI Awesome Again S. for owner Hronis Racing and trainer John Sadler. Bredin Kentucky by...

Unbeaten Flightline (Tapit) tuned up for his expected 4-year-old debut in the Mar. 5 GII San Carlos S. with a four-furlong work in :47.80 (6/86) at Santa Anita Sunday. "I had him in :48 and one on my watch, but more important is the way he went," said trainer John Sadler. "He looked very comfortable and it was just a start on the road back. He'll return in the San Carlos, but the big goal is the [June 11 GI] Met Mile." Flightline, unchallenged in three lifetime starts, was tabbed...

It's been a long time since I have been up at `dark thirty', but here I find myself happily strolling into Santa Anita Park at 4:30 in the morning--a far cry from nearly 10 years ago when I was galloping horses and would find myself running late whilst popping an Altoid and three Advil to quell the night-before activities. But here I am. Why? Because I asked John Sadler for a Flightline (Tapit) interview and of course, Flightline trains at 5 a.m. After a morning of carrots, coffee, and horses,...

The team that puts out the Beyer speed figure numbers made it official Monday morning. 'TDN Rising Star' Flightline (Tapit) is really, really, fast. Flightline was given a 118 Beyer figure for his sensational performance in Sunday's GI Runhappy Malibu S. at Santa Anita, which is the top figure assigned to any horse this year. Prior to the Malibu, Flightline and Baby Yoda (Prospective) were tied for the best number on the year, a 114. Baby Yoda finished second in the Malibu, but was never a threat to Flightline, who...

Flightline (Tapit), who had given hints of greatness while opening his career with two supremely easy victories, officially arrived with an eye-popping victory in the GI Runhappy Malibu S. at Santa Anita Sunday. For Bill Farish of co-owner Woodford Racing, the Malibu result confirmed the faith his team has had in the colt all along. "We hoped to win this, but to do this against this kind of field, this was the real class test for him and I think he answered it the way we thought he would," Farish...