TDN RISING STARS

May 27, 2024 - Santa Anita, Race 8, Msw, USD $54,000, 6F

Eagles Flight, C, 3, 2021 by Curlin

1st Dam: Feathered, by Indian Charlie
2nd Dam: Receipt, by Dynaformer
3rd Dam: Finder's Fee, by Storm Cat

Owner: Hronis Racing LLC, Summer Wind Equine LLC & W S Farish
Breeder: Summer Wind Equine LLC (KY)
Trainer: John W. Sadler

Being a half-brother to undefeated Horse of the Year Flightline (Tapit, Horse of the Year, Ch. Older Dirt Male, MGISW, $4,514,800), the expectations were naturally high and the pressure certainly on, and Hronis Racing, Summer Wind Equine and William S. Farish's Eagles Flight (c, 3, Curlin–Feathered, by Indian Charlie) proved equal to the task, overcoming something of a tricky trip to join Flightline as 'TDN Rising Stars.'

Beyond the obvious pedigree appeal, Eagles Flight had displayed plenty of ability in the mornings, with three consecutive black-letter works heading into the debut capped by a best-of-41 five furlongs in :58 4/5 May 19.

As low as 3-5 as the horses were about to depart the paddock, Eagles Flight–carrying the Summer Wind silks–eased into 4-5 and remained there before a further market drift saw him jump at odds of 11-10. Not the quickest away from the two hole, the scopey bay colt–who tipped the scales at 1,177 pounds according to a Santa Anita graphic–brushed lightly at the break with the rail-drawn Atitlan (The Factor), then was beaten for speed and was ridden along from about seventh, but raced not all that far away from the leaders down the backstretch.

In tight for a stride or two at that stage, Eagles Flight traveled sweetly for Flightline's jockey Flavien Prat and he was angled away from the inside and into about the three path at the three-eighths. Taking a gap professionally between rivals while gaining good ground nearing the quarter pole, Eagles Flight rolled up outside to engage 2-1 chief market rival Santarena (Omaha Beach), a three-time maiden, but who earned a 93 Beyer for a runner-up effort two starts back. The chalk wanted to lug in approaching the eighth pole, but once straightened away by Prat, he leveled out beautifully and won going away before galloping out strongly. The final time for the six furlongs was a rock-solid 1:10.07, all despite apparently losing his right front shoe somewhere along the way.

Racing in the colors of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Feathered was multiple Grade I-placed on the dirt at two, but developed into one of the top turf runners of her generation the following season, winning the GIII Edgewood S. while finishing runner-up in the GI American Oaks and the GII Lake George S. Jane Lyon added Feathered to her boutique broodmare band at Summer Wind Farm, paying $2.35 million for the 4-year-old when offered pregnant to War Front at the 2016 Keeneland November Sale and the mare has since bred four winners from five to start.

Her second produce was Flightline, a $1-million Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling who went undefeated in his six-race career with elite-level scores at seven furlongs (Malibu S.), eight furlongs (Hill 'n' Dale Met Mile H.) and a mile and a quarter (TVG Pacific Classic, GI Breeders' Cup Classic). He won those half-dozen races by some 70 1/2 lengths combined. Eagles Flight's third dam Finder's Fee took the 1999 GI Matron S. and added the GI Acorn S. the following season.

Lyon had Eagles Flight entered for the 2022 Keeneland September Sale, only days after Flightline won the Pacific Classic by better than 19 lengths. Ultimately she could not risk the colt at auction and elected to retain him, adding Flightline partners Hronis Racing and Will Farish to the ownership group.

Feathered is the dam of the 2-year-old Into Mischief filly Flight of Fancy, was barren to Tapit for 2023 and produced a full-brother to Flightline this past February.

Eagles Flight is the 27th 'TDN Rising Star' for Curlin.