__STABLE NOTES BY ED GOLDEN SATURDAY, OCT. 15, 2022 __

• FLIGHTLINE BREEZES SIX FURLONGS IN 1:11.80 • D’AMATO RUNNING ‘GOOD ONE-TWO PUNCH’ TODAY • PUYPE SEEKS SURPRISES IN THE CALIFORNIA FLAG • MANDATORY BIG BUCKS LOOM OVER THE RAINBOW

FLIGHTLINE ‘PERFECT’ IN PENULTIMATE SANTA ANITA DRILL

Superstar Flightline was all business in his fourth Santa Anita breeze in preparation for the Grade I, $6 Breeders’ Cup Classic Nov. 5 at Keeneland, as he posted a 1:11.80 official clocking this morning for six furlongs.

As he has for the past month, Flightline entered the main track via the quarter mile chute with John Sadler assistant Juan Leyva aboard just prior to 6:35 a.m. Accompanied by a stable pony, he galloped under the wire and around the Club House turn and was set down approaching the five furlong pole in near total darkness.

From there, he clicked off splits of 23.60, 35.40, 47.80 and 59.40 en route to the seven furlong pole where he stopped the clock for six furlongs in 1:11.80.

Highly respected private clocker Gary Young had the undefeated 4-year-old Tapit colt galloping out seven furlongs in 1:24.80 and one mile in 1:38.60.

“Perfect,” said Sadler, who noted that Flightline will have his final Santa Anita work next Saturday, Oct. 22. “It was another routine work from him. He always works the same and we’re not looking to do anything different from what we’ve been doing. As you saw, he went six (furlongs) in 12, out (seven eighths) in 24 and a mile in 38 and three. Just a nice steady work pattern.

“All’s good. That’s him, that’s the way he works. He’ll have one more here and then he goes to Keeneland after his next work. He’ll have one work over there.” Sadler also indicated Flightline will likely work a bit later in the morning next Saturday.

“We might go a little later here next week because it’s getting darker,” he said.

Unbeaten in five starts by a combined 62 ¾ lengths, Flightline, who was purchased for $1 million out of the 2019 Fasig-Tipton New York Select Yearling Sale, comes off a 19 ¼ length victory in the Grade I, $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar Sept. 3, his first try around two turns and a race in which he earned a 126 Beyer Speed Figure, North America’s top fig of the year.

A six-length winner of the Grade I Metropolitan Mile Handicap on June 11, he took Santa Anita’s opening day Grade I, seven furlong Malibu Stakes Dec. 26 by 11 ½ lengths.

Out of the Indian Charlie mare Feathered, Flightline is owned by California-based Hronis Racing, LLC, Siena Farm, LLC, Summer Wind Equine, LLC, West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing, LLC.

With earnings of $1,394,800, it has been announced that Flightline will stand stud at Lane’s End Farm in Lexington following his racing career, which may or may not include a 5-year-old campaign in 2023.

Flightline is expected to ship to Lexington a week from Sunday, Oct. 23. --Mike Willman

D’AMATO SEEKS FIFTH WIN IN CALIFORNIA DISTAFF

Leggs Galore, unbeaten in two starts on Santa’s unique downhill turf course at about 6 ½ furlongs, and Rose Dawson, second in her lone start over the venue, represent Phil D’Amato in today’s $100,000 California Distaff Handicap for Cal-breds.

“They’re both Cal-bred and it should be a good spot for both of them,” reasoned the trainer, who has won four of eight runnings of the race, the last two in a row with Just Grazed Me for owner Nick Alexander.

“We know Leggs Galore has already won down the hill before, and Rose Dawson ran a good second to Connie Swingle who’s undefeated on the grass down the hill, and she broke really slow that day.

“I think it’s a good one-two punch.”

Leggs Galore, a five-year-old gray daughter of Bayern owned and bred by William Sims, has nine wins from 17 starts with earnings of $674,548. Her forte is speed.

Rose Dawson, owned and bred by Alexander, should be motoring late as she won the Cal Cup Oaks at a mile on turf Jan. 22. She was still 11th before the field of 12 turned for home.

The California Distaff, race three of 10 with a 1 p.m. first post time: Kleen Karma, Edwin Maldonado, 5-1; Rose Dawson, Juan Hernandez, 5-1; Leggs Galore, Ricardo Gonzalez, 4-5; Eddie’s New Dream, Mario Gutierrez, 5-2; and Harper’s Gallop, Hector Berrios, 8-1.

PUYPE PAIR SEEK UPSETS IN CALIFORNIA FLAG

Mike Puype has two horses entered in Sunday’s $100,000 California Flag Handicap, Smuggler’s Run and Straight Up G, both outsiders at 15-1 and 20-1, respectively, on the morning line.

The race is one in the Golden State Series for three-year-olds and up at about 6 ½ furlongs on the downhill turf course.

Both sired by Straight Fire, on paper they would have to improve off their last two starts to gain a share of the purse.

“His last two races weren’t so good, but he’s got family that’s run on the grass so we wanted to try something different,” Puype said of Straight Up G, owned and bred by Jungle Racing LLC.

“He adds blinkers and he’s going to run better this time.”

Smuggler’s Run is coming off two turf routes in his last three races, including a third in the Snow Chief on May 28.

“I think the routes were a little far for him, but he’s run some good sprints,” Puype said. “They’re both in tough spots because they’re three-year-olds against older horses, but we’re ready to take our best shot and see what happens.

“They’re training well and we expect good races from them.”

The California Flag goes as race nine of nine with a 1 p.m. first post time: Hot Box, Ricardo Gonzalez, 20-1; None Above the Law, Ryan Curatolo, 4-1; Sunrise Journey, Ramon Vazquez, 20-1; Finneus, Jose Valdivia Jr., 20-1; Jetovator, Edwin Maldonado, 8-1; The Chosen Vron, Hector Berrios, 5-2; Hail Freedom, Mike Smith, 4-1; Smuggler’s Run, Joe Bravo, 15-1; Aligato, Umberto Rispoli, 5-1; Coast of Roan, Tyler Baze, 8-1; and Straight Up G, Kyle Frey, 20-1.

MANDATORY 20-CENT RAINBOW PICK 6 PAYOUT TODAY

With a pool that’s expected to exceed $2 million, there will be a mandatory payout in today’s 20-cent Rainbow Pick Six Jackpot at Santa Anita. There was no live racing yesterday, so there is a Rainbow Six carryover from last Sunday of $266,211.

Today will mark day eight of the track’s current 18-day Autumn Meet, which concludes on Sunday, Nov. 6.

Today’s main event is the $100,000 California Distaff Handicap for fillies and mares bred or sired in California at about 6 ½ furlongs down the hillside turf.

First post time is 1 p.m. The Rainbow Pick Six is comprised of races five through 10.

__FINISH LINES: __Congratulations to groom Felipe Mendoza, winner of the 2022 Thoroughbred Industry “Dedication to Racing” Award, which is sponsored by the NTRA. Mendoza, who works for Hall of Fame conditioner Richard Mandella, received the award yesterday at Keeneland. The Awards gala, which was emceed by Santa Anita’s Frank Mirahmadi, was held at the Keeneland Racecourse Sales Pavillion…It’s been 40 years since the brilliant juvenile filly Landaluce graced the American racing scene and the undefeated Champion daughter of Seattle Slew is fondly remembered in a recently published book entitled “Landaluce, the Story of Seattle Slew’s First Champion.” The book, artfully written by Mary Perdue, with a forward by Santa Anita Morning Line Maker Jon White, is available on-track at Champions! Gifts & Apparel. Perdue and White will be available to sign copies of the book today and tomorrow from 12 noon to 1 p.m. and again from 4 to 5 p.m. in the East Paddock Gardens..Felix Taverna, host of Race & Sports Radio, will be host Tom Quigley’s guest today, while horseplayer Shane O’Neill will do honors Sunday, each day at 11:50 a.m. . . . In a racing oddity, six of the 14 horses entered in today’s sixth race are adding blinkers: Conch Daddy, Icy Flavor, Our Shining Light, Naughty Niko, Our Journey and also-eligible Honeymoon Suite.