Undefeated Flightline tops a deep Kentucky-bred contingent set for Championship Saturday at the Breeders’ Cup as he headlines the lucrative $6,000,000 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Keeneland on Saturday, Nov. 5.

The sensational son of Tapit-Feathered, by Indian Charlie, is undefeated in five lifetime starts for trainer John Sadler and is coming off a 19 ¼-length romp in the Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar Sept. 3. Owned by Hronis Racing, Summer Wind Equine, West Point Thoroughbreds, Siena Farm, and Woodford Racing, Flightline has impressed his connections in preparation for the Classic, the biggest race of his career. When asked on Thursday what he expects to see on Saturday afternoon, Sadler said, “More of the same.”

A $1 million acquisition at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Selected Yearling Sale, Flightline broke his maiden by 13 ¼ lengths when he debuted in April of 2021 at Santa Anita. He went on to win that year’s Malibu Stakes (G1) to close out his 3-year-old campaign and returned this season to dominate his rivals in the Metropolitan Handicap (G1) at Belmont Park and most recently won the Pacific Classic. His 126 Beyer Speed Figure in winning Del Mar’s signature event towers over the rivals he faces in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Among his chief rivals in the 1 ¼-mile test is fellow Kentucky-bred Life Is Good. The multiple Grade 1 winner is owned by WinStar Farm and CHC Inc. and is trained by Todd Pletcher. Bred in Kentucky by Gary and Mary West Stables, the son of Into Mischief enters the Classic off back-to-back Grade 1 scores, having annexed the Whitney Stakes (G1) at Saratoga and the Woodward Stakes (G1) at Aqueduct last time out.

Life Is Good won last year’s Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Del Mar and is likely to make his presence felt as soon as the gates spring open. A $525,000 graduate of the Keeneland September Sale, Life Is Good is produced from the Distorted Humor mare Beach Walk.

Another key contender is Kentucky-bred Epicenter, a three-year-old facing elders for owner Winchell Thoroughbreds and trainer Steve Asmussen. Epicenter won the Travers Stakes (G1) by 5 ¼ lengths in his most recent start in August. Prior to that facile score, he won the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2), and finished second in both the Preakness Stakes (G1) and the Kentucky Derby (G1) following wins in the Louisiana Derby (G2) and Risen Star Stakes (G2).

“It’s unbelievably exciting to be part of this field,” said Asmussen. “Flightline is the physical specimen watching him train. I can’t say enough about the job (trainer) John (Sadler) has done handling him. You see Taiba come to town and how good he looks training. It’s just an unbelievably talented group of horses. You have Rich Strike, the Derby winner at a mile and a quarter. It’s a highly anticipated race and we’re excited to be a part of it. Epicenter looks excellent, and we’re expecting a huge effort from him.”

Rich Strike who won the roses on the First Saturday in May at odds of 80-1 and enters the Classic off a second-place finish to Hot Rod Charlie—a rival again in the Classic. In speaking about facing Flightline, trainer Eric Reed said, “A lot of things have to happen but first is if Flightline doesn’t show up. Then ‘Richie’ has to run his best race of the year by far. If it rains, it might give him an edge. He’s never raced on an off track, but he likes it in the morning.”

The Classic field in post position order is: Taiba, Life Is Good, Happy Saver, Flightline, Hot Rod Charlie, Epicenter, Olympiad, and Rich Strike. Post-time for the Classic is 5:40 p.m.