It was just under a year ago when I opined that I was hard pressed to recall a horse who has looked better in his first two career starts then Flightline. Very lightly raced, the 4-year-old John Sadler trainee still has his lofty reputation intact. Now four races into his career, he has added two impressive Grade 1 victories to his tally, and it is time for new challenges.

After a statement win by the 3-year-old Epicenter in Saturday’s Travers (G1), the ball is back in Flightline's court. On Saturday, the highly regarded son of Tapit will look to show the world that the classic distance of 10 furlongs is within his talented realm when he faces his toughest test yet in Saturday’s $1 million Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar.

The Pacific Classic will not include Epicenter and Life Is Good, the two most highly regarded horses east of the Mississippi, but it will offer a solid field of older horses led by the Dubai World Cup (G1) winner Country Grammer. More than anything, though, it will afford Flightline the opportunity to prove that he can go the distance.

It’s been a long time coming, but the moment has finally come when Flightline can show just what type of horse he really is. Well-bred with looks to match, he always was a horse always meant for big things.

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It was more than three years ago when he first made news. Terry Finley picked him out and purchased him for $1 million at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale for an owner partnership that included his West Point Thoroughbreds, breeder Summer Wind, Hronis Racing, Siena Farm and Woodford Racing.

Always patiently handled, Flightline would not make it to the races for nearly two years. When he finally entered his first race at Santa Anita on April 24 of last year, the wait proved well worth it. The 3-year-old debuted with a dazzling 13 1/4-length runaway against maiden special weight competition, stopping the timer in 1:08.75.

Four months after that sensational debut performance, Flightline was even better for his second start. In a class by himself in a Del Mar allowance race, he cruised home by 12 3/4 lengths, this time in a final time of 1:08.05 for the 6 furlongs.

Clearly it was time for elite competition, but that opportunity would have to wait for the final week of 2021. The occasion was Santa Anita’s Malibu Stakes (G1), and once again Flightline did not disappoint.

The higher level of competition proved to be absolutely no trouble for Flightline. Ridden by regular rider Flavien Prat, the 2-5 favorite made mincemeat out of his Grade 1 competition. The 11 1/2-length victory was completed with consummate ease, while stopping the timer in 1:21.37 for seven furlongs.

His 3-year-old season included only three starts, but they were each memorable.

After a minor physical setback delayed his seasonal debut, Flightline returned to the races, this time on the East Coast. He would tackle new solid competition and eight furlongs in the $1 million Met Mile (G1). The result on the big stage of Belmont Stakes Day would be more of what we’ve come to expect from Flightline.

Most impressive in his first trip to the east was the way he was able to overcome trouble. After breaking slowly, he was squeezed to the rail and was forced to chase a talented horse for the first time in his career. That task was made to look ridiculously easy by Flightline – as was the job of holding off the late run by a very good distance horse.

As awesome as he looked in dominating his three races in California as a 3-year-old, I believe this was his best race yet.

Now only four starts into his career, and past the mid-point of his 4-year-old season, there is still much to be proven by Flightline – he has yet to run two turns – but finding a horse who has been more impressive in his initial four outings is near impossible.

Flightline checks all the boxes. Pedigree and looks were the reasons he was purchased for seven figures as a yearling, and he has developed into more than his connections could have hoped for. His performances on the track have been nothing short of breathtaking. His speed figures are off the charts, and the way he moves is a thing of beauty.

There can be little doubt that he passes the eye test, but now he must pass a new hurdle. The greatest of the greats of American racing history all were able to prove themselves at a distance of ground. Flightline must do the same if he wants to be remembered in such a way.

He also has to show his connections that he can succeed at the classic distance to get his shot at the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Keeneland on Nov. 5. It is the race that likely will decide the 2022 Horse of the Year winner.

Unbeaten and utterly untested so far, all eyes will be on Flightline on Saturday. My guess is that his performance will be worth the price of admission.