West Point enjoyed a dream Saturday with four winners, capped off by a stakes triumph from Jaxon Traveler and a stunning debut about 10 minutes later by Flightline, who dropped jaws near and far with a dominant display at Santa Anita. The winning quartet ushered in the final week before O Besos’ bid for Kentucky Derby glory on the First Saturday in May at Churchill Downs.
Flightline and First Captain were both marquee yearling purchases at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale and both colts happened to make it to the races on Saturday and make instant headlines.
First Captain rumbled home at Belmont Park to win going away for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey. Read More.
In the very next race at Belmont, Classic Colors circled the field and kept on going for an eye-catching win in her first run as a 3-year-old. Christophe Clement trains the New York-bred daughter of Street Sense.
Jaxon Traveler had tasted defeat for the first time in agonizing fashion a month ago in a photo finish but there were no anxious moments this time as he shot to the lead and stormed through the stretch to win the $200,000 Bachelor Stakes at Oaklawn Park by more than 2 lengths. An 2yo purchase at OBS in 2020, Jaxon Traveler is 4-for-5 lifetime for trainer Steve Asmussen.
What followed next was an epic unveiling: Flightline 13 1/4-length annihilation that triggered a 105 Beyer Speed Figure, one of the fastest debuts in that metric’s history.
Flightline lived up to his morning reputation and then some for trainer John Sadler and jockey Flavien Prat.
Meanwhile underneath the Twin Spires, the ultra-professional O Besos kept chugging along toward the Run for the Roses, with entries and the post-position draw set for Tuesday morning.
First Captain’s Debut Win
Classic Colors’ Second Straight Win
Jaxon Traveler Wins Bachelor Stakes at Oaklawn
Flightline’s Debut Win
