Flightline Half Sister Wins at Tampa at Second Asking

This column highlights the performances of 3-year-old maidens who have made no more than five starts and who either sold for more than $500,000 at public auction, have siblings that are graded/group winners, or have dams that are graded/group winners. BloodHorse research shows maiden winners, in particular, who meet these criteria are more likely to go on to be graded stakes winners.

TAMPA BAY DOWNS

It's been more than two years since Flightline  electrified the racing world with his short but brilliant campaign. Since that time, the undefeated 2022 Horse of the Year has taken up residency at Lane's End Farm, seeking new worlds to conquer when his first offspring hit the track in spring 2026.

Since Flightline's heroics, two of his siblings have graced the winner's circle, including his newly turned 3-year-old half sister, Flight of Fancy. With her Jan. 24 victory, she became the fifth winner produced from the Indian Charlie mare Feathered. No slouch herself, Feathered enjoyed a successful racing tenure under trainer Todd Pletcher, retiring a grade 3 winner with nearly $600,000 in the bank. A $300,000 2-year-old in training, Feathered dropped the hammer for $2.35 million at the 2016 Keeneland November Sale to Jane Lyons' Summer Wind Equine. Her second foal begat the mighty Flightline.

Since Flightline passed through the sales ring as a yearling, selling to West Point Thoroughbreds for $1 million, Lyons would maintain only a minority interest in the son of Tapit  during his racing career. With Flight of Fancy, however, Summer Wind Equine retained complete ownership of the filly as she continued on her racetrack journey. A daughter of six-time leading stallion Into Mischief , Flight of Fancy joined the barn of Hall of Fame conditioner Bill Mott.  Although she maintained a steady work tab in New York through the fall, Mott wouldn't unveil the leggy bay until December at Tampa Bay Downs.

A winner at distances of six furlongs to 1 1/14 miles, Flightline proved just as lethal sprinting as he did around two turns, Flight of Fancy failed to catch the runaway winner in her six-furlong debut, only finding her momentum late. Brought back at a distance of a mile and 40 yards, there would be no denying Flight of Fancy this time as she rallied home a 1 1/4-length winner.

While not a flashy win by Flightline standards, Flight of Fancy was game and professional in her second time out and first around two turns. Finishing full of run, she stopped the clock in 1:40.67 over a fast main track.

Lyons announced on Friday that Feathered was carrying a full sibling to Flightline due in March.