The first time John Sadler worked with Flightline, the trainer knew the son of Tapit was something special.

“It wasn’t something that built over time, that developed,” Sadler said Thursday. “It was there on day one. You could see it immediately with Flightline. Actually, I had been told by someone else even before I started working him that he was gifted.”

Just how gifted is part of the excitement building at Del Mar going into Saturday’s 32nd running of the $1 million Pacific Classic — the premier event of the track’s year.

Although he has raced only four times, the 4-year-old Flightline is a morning-line 1-5 favorite in a field of six expected to contest the 1¼-mile, Grade I stakes race on the main track.

The question many are asking is how impressive Flightline will be in victory? And what is in his future?

A victory in the Pacific Classic assures Flightline a berth in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic in November. And Sadler and owners Kosta and Pete Hronis are discussing a trip to the Middle East early next year for the $20 million Saudi Cup and the $12 million Dubai World Cup.

“Flightline’s greatest value is as a sire,” said Sadler of the colt. “Everything is being discussed.”

Through four career races, Flightline’s smallest margin of victory was six lengths. That came in his most recent outing, the Grade I Metropolitan Handicap at one mile on June 11 at Belmont Park.

His other margins of victory were 13¼ lengths in his debut on April 24, 2021, at six furlongs at Santa Anita; 12¾ lengths in his previous Del Mar start at six furlongs last Sept. 5, and 11½ lengths in the seven-furlong Grade I Malibu Stakes on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita.

He was coasting at the finish in all four races under jockey Flavien Prat, who has returned from New York just for the chance to ride Flightline in the Pacific Classic.

Note: No trainer from the East even nominated a horse for the Pacific Classic this year. And two of the original nominees were opted out in favor of racing in Grade II stakes on Saturday’s card.

“I can honestly say it’s an honor and a pleasure to have a horse like Flightline at this point in my career,” said Sadler. “You just don’t get that many chances at a horse like this … maybe once.”

It wasn’t all fun and games with the younger Flightline. Growing pains delayed his debut. And as a 2-year-old, Flightline had a dust-up with a stable door that left a scar along his right hip.

And there are some questions. Saturday will be the first time Flightline has gone two turns or raced more than a mile. Questions like those give other trainers hope.

“You can’t be afraid of one horse,” trainer Bob Baffert said recently. “Flightline is an exceptional horse. I’ve watched him train. I haven’t seen a horse like that since American Pharoah and another good horse I had, Arrogate. Flightline’s that caliber of horse.”

American Pharoah, of course, won the Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup Classic in 2015. Arrogate won the Travers, Breeders’ Cup Classic, Pegasus World Cup and Dubai World Cup in consecutive starts in 2016-17.

Baffert has the second-favorite horse in the Pacific Classic in Country Grammer, who won this year’s Dubai World Cup after finishing second in the Saudi Cup. Country Grammer also ran second to another Pacific Classic entry (Royal Ship) in the Grade II San Diego Handicap on July 30 at Del Mar.

Country Grammer is listed at 4-1 with Royal Ship the third pick at 8-1.

The Pacific Classic, which will go off as the 10th race at 5:35 p.m., is supported by three, $300,000 Grade II stakes on Saturday’s 11-race program. The Grade IIs:

◆ Del Mar Mile (one mile turf, older horses, seventh race): The wide-open field includes the Sadler-trained, 2021 Pacific Classic winner Tripoli; morning-line, 3-1 favorite Hong Kong Harry (with Prat riding); Cathkin Peak (Umberto Rispoli), who finished third to Hong Kong Harry’s second in the Grade II Eddie Read on July 31; Goliad (Juan Hernandez), and Irideo (Hector Berrios), who won the Wickerr Stakes on July 24.

◆ Del Mar Derby (1 1/8 miles turf, 3-year-olds, ninth race): Rispoli will again be aboard the Phil D’Amato-trained Balnikhov, the winner of the July 22 Oceanside Stakes and the morning-line, 5-2 favorite; Mackinnon (Hernandez) is a son of American Pharoah and has won two of four previous Del Mar starts; Cabo Spirit (Joe Bravo) won the Grade III La Jolla Handicap on Aug. 7, and the Mark Glatt-trained Dandy Warhol will have Prat up in search of a second straight Del Mar win.

◆ Del Mar Handicap (1 3/8 miles turf, older horses, 11th race): This will be a rubber match between Tizamagician and Heywoods Beach, but this time it will be on the grass. Heywoods Beach won the Grade III Cougar II Stakes on July with Tizamagician second. Tizamagician won the 2021 Cougar II with Heywoods Beach third. Mike Smith will be aboard the Richard Mandella-trained Tizamagician with Ramon Vazquez aboard the Sadler-trained Heywoods Beach. But the early favorite is Eddie Read winner Master Piece (Abel Cedillo).

Hot Box and jockey Ricardo Gonzalez held off the late charge of Commander (Victor Espinoza) to win Thursday’s five-furlong turf feature for older California-bred horses, giving trainer Brian Koriner two wins for the day. Koriner scored with Hot Box ($8.80) in the seventh and Laughing Legacy ($4.60) in the fourth.

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Richard Mandella and Bob Baffert take their shots in $1 million race at Del Mar

Note: Jockey Joe Bravo is serving a one-day suspension today.

Notes: Leading jockey Juan Hernandez is suspended for Thursday’s program. He’ll be back Friday.

Flightline is overwhelming morning-line favorite over Country Grammer, four others in Saturday’s $1 million race

Mare edges Slammed in the Rancho Bernardo as John Sadler gears up for the $1 million Pacific Classic with undefeated Flightline

Day 23 of a 31-day meet

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