Flightline Filly Could Keep the Mojo Working for Drown, Rachel at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale

[Wandering Eyes]

The first yearling by champion Flightline to sell in the U.S. will go through the sales ring early during Monday's first session of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale and the filly, bred by Jeff Drown and Don Rachel and consigned by Indian Creek, is from a family that has already enjoyed a heady day at the Humphrey S. Finney pavilion. Out of All American Dream (American Pharoah), hip 34 is a half-sister to graded-stakes winning Barnes (Into Mischief), who sold for $3.2 million at the 2023 Saratoga sale. Hip 34 will be one of nine yearlings from the first crop of Flightline scheduled to go through the ring at the two-day Saratoga auction next week.

“Obviously, Flightline generated incredible buzz as a racehorse and I think it's just held, if not strengthened, as he's gone into the breeding shed,” Indian Creek's Sarah Sutherland said. “And now here we are with his first crop of yearlings. Shares in him have sold well, weanlings by him have sold well. And to have a boutique group of them here in Saratoga with, I am sure, physicals to match these incredible pedigrees, is going to be exciting. As a seller, we are all going to help each other. Everybody that has a nice one, we all give each other a boost that way.”

Of Indian Creek's offering by the stallion, Sutherland said, “She is a filly that will speak for herself, I think, here on the grounds. She will be easily identified by people on paper, obviously, being by Flightline, and the mare is off to a great start with Barnes. And then when you see her, I think you understand pretty quickly how much class and how serious she is.”

All American Dream is one of the first horses Drown, founder and CEO of the Minnesota-based Lyon Contracting, and good friend Rachel, founder of Rachel Contracting, acquired when they got into racing in the late 2010s. The filly, who RNA'd for $775,000 at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton October Yearling Sale, is out of A.P. Dream (A.P. Indy), a full-sister to Grade I winner Majestic Warrior, and a daughter of multiple Grade I winner Dream Supreme (Seeking the Gold).

“Jeff and Don, in partnership, when they buy fillies at the yearling sales, the plan is always long-term thinking and you are looking for fillies that could potentially turn into top mares and have that residual value and that back class,” Sutherland said.

While All American Dream failed to hit the board in just two trips to the post, she has quickly rewarded the partners in the breeding shed.

“She wasn't able to race for as long as we hoped, but I think we are seeing now that the depth of her pedigree is really coming forward with what she has produced,” Sutherland said. “She is a mare that we have long-term plans for, hopefully.”

Barnes was All American Dream's first foal. After selling for $3.2 million to Amr Zedan, the colt followed his debut victory at Churchill Downs last November with a victory in the GII San Vicente Stakes in his second start. He was second behind Journalism (Curlin) in the GII San Felipe Stakes.

“I think we are still living a fairy tale with Barnes,” said Sutherland. “This mare is pretty special. Barnes was her first foal and he was one of those where when he was born, you sort of just knew immediately. There was no guess work or questioning. He was pretty outstanding at birth and he just continued to show that at each stage through his growth. As a weanling and a yearling, anything you asked him to do, he just did so willingly and happily. He was a horse with a lot of quiet confidence and I think you see that in this filly as well. Just the class level is pretty neat to be around.”

Drown and Rachel had almost immediate success on the racetrack with the likes of GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Structor (Palace Malice), while Drown made it to the GI Kentucky Derby with 2022 GI Toyota Blue Grass Stakes winner Zandon (Upstart), who finished third on the First Saturday in May.

Of the push and pull of maintaining both a racing stable and a commercial breeding operation, Sutherland explained, “You are sort of looking at the individuals. Especially with a young mare like All American Dream, you do feel protective of them and you want to make sure they get off on the right foot with those first couple of foals. When we brought Barnes up here, our thought was, we love him and hopefully the market receives him in the same light. If so, he will get into good hands and a great program. If not, we will protect him and try to help the mare ourselves.”

In the winner's circle with Zandon | Janet Garaguso

Barnes's seven-figure price tag made it an easier decision to keep the mare's second foal, a son of Essential Quality. Now a 2-year-old and named All American Boy, the chestnut is in training with Brad Cox at Ellis Park.

“He was impressive when he was down with Ian Brennan at Stonestreet and, so far, I think it's been all positive,” Sutherland said of reports on the juvenile. “He's got to go and do it now, but so far, so good.”

All American Dream produced a full-brother to Barnes this year and was bred back to Into Mischief. While the partners offer the mare's only filly to date, Sutherland agreed there were hopes to eventually have a daughter out of her to join the broodmare band.

“We have a lot of confidence in her,” Sutherland said of the yearling filly. “We will see how we get on here. All American Dream is a young mare. We are confident we can have luck on our side and get another filly from her.”

Ultimately, it's a balancing act between racing and selling, but always with an eye towards the bottom line, Sutherland agreed.

“It is business,” Sutherland said. “As much fun as it is to race, some of these can help some others in the program. So we do try to look at it that way as well and balance it out.”

Drown has about 10 broodmares in his band and, according to Sutherland, expects to stay on that number as he focuses on breeding at the top level.

“Similar to his racing operation, the focus is on quality and trying to breed and participate at a very high level,” Sutherland said. “And he's been great that way. He's been very careful about what mares he buys and supports them with top stallions. And it's been fun supporting Zandon, too. He raced Zandon, so we have had a couple mares go to him.”

Just like the fast start on the racetrack, the partners have stormed out of the gates in the sales ring.

“That was first sale that Don came to,” Sutherland said of the 2023 Saratoga sale that saw Barnes bring $3.2 million. “So he's at 100%.”

She continued, “It's been a lot of fun working with them. Jeff and Don are great friends and have great energy and a lot of enthusiasm. It's just a very positive sort of program and group to work with. They make it a whole lot of fun.”

The Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale will be held Monday and Tuesday evenings at the Humphrey S. Finney Sales Pavilion. Bidding begins each night at 6:30 p.m.

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