Eagles Flight lives up to the hype (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
Santa Anita Press Box
ARCADIA, Calif.— Eagles Flight, a 3-year-old half-brother to undefeated 2022 Horse of the Year Flightline, looks to have a bright future following a 2 ¾-length debut win going six furlongs at Santa Anita Saturday.
Dispatched as the even-money favorite under Flavien Prat, Eagles Flight raced in mid-pack before angling out four-wide leaving the second turn and outrunning 2-1 Santarena to the wire.
“He was a little green out of there, then I was in a nice rhythm down the backside,” Prat said. “I was very pleased with the way he handled himself with the other horses. Turning for home he kind of leaned on that other horse (Santarena) to the inside, but I was able to correct him with my left hand and he won the race.”
Trained by John Sadler, who also conditioned Flightline, Eagles Flight completed six furlongs in 1:10.07. Fractions for the race were 21.96, 44.95 and 56.75.
“We’re really happy,” Sadler said. “He got about four races of experiences in him from one race, considering he had to come up the inside and eat a lot of dirt. He handled those lessons very well, so I was very pleased.”
Eagles Flight returned $4.20, $2.60 and $2.20. Santarena, ridden by Antonio Fresu for trainer Mark Glatt, paid $2.60 and $2.20. Third-place finisher Sully (6-1), ridden by Umberto Rispoli for trainer John Shirreffs, returned $2.80.
Eagles Flight is by two-time Horse of the Year Curlin out of graded stakes winner Feathered, by Indian Charlie. He was bred by Summer Wind Equine, who co-owns the colt with Hronis Racing and W.S. Farish.
