It’s not too early to end Life is good (Into Mischief) with some of the finest horses of the modern era. That’s how good he was on Saturday at Gulfstream as he dominated a field that included the soon-to-be-named Horse of the Year 2021. Knicks Go (Payer) during the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. in which was nothing more than a sensational performance.
But is he even the best horse at training?
This is a rare and special time for horse racing, which has been blessed with not one but two horses who appear to be generational talents that could become one of the finest horses ever raced.
The other, of course, is Flight route (Tapit). Runhappy Malibu S. compared to superstars like Ghostzapper (Awesome again). He received 118 Beyer in his win over Malibu, which is higher than Life Is Good’s best number, which is the 110 Beyer he picked up in Pegasus.
Who’s better? The debate has begun, but it’s a question that can only be answered on the track. Unfortunately, the two are not exactly on a collision course to meet.
Flight back to the work tab on Sunday at Santa Anita. In his first work since December 19, a week before Malibu, he rode the metal four in 47.80. Then coach John Sadler told Daily Racing Form Jay Privman that Flightline will begin next on March 5, GII San Carlos S. at seven flights. The next launch then will likely be the GI Metropolitan H. which will be running on June 11.
As for Life Is Good, his next match is likely to come in the Dubai World Cup on March 26.
“We’re going to get together this week and talk about it,” said Elliott Walden, president and chief executive officer of racing operations for WinStar Farm and co-owner of Life Is Good. “He will not be playing in the Saudi Cup, coming back in four weeks. So Dubai will be the next choice. We’ll see how he comes back and then start drawing up plans for the whole year. ”
Until the Met Mile goes, Walden wouldn’t rule it out, but said that, if Life Is Good were to run in Dubai, that could remove the Met Mile from consideration. The next spot that could bring Flightline and Life Is Good together is GI Whitney S. Sadler listed it as a possible start for Flightline and Walden said Sunday it’s a race that’s also underway. review for Life Is Good. If all else fails, there’s always the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic, a race both stars are aiming for.
“It would be great if those two met,” Walden said. “It would be great for horse racing. I think it’s more of a question of when than if. We didn’t ignore anyone. We told right after the Dirt Mile what we were planning to do. We wanted to do it right with our horse, and I knew John Sadler wanted to do it right with his horse. He is a great coach. They will meet at some point and that will be great for racing.”
Life Is Good did the first three warm-ups for trainer Bob Baffert. When Baffert ran into problems with the New York Racing Association, which was trying to suspend him, Life Is Good was transferred to Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher.
“I can’t think of a horse [I trained] better than him,” Pletcher said after Pegasus.
“For me, the Good Life is right up there with Evenly,” said Walden. “Evenly won the Triple Crown and was undefeated. Bob [Baffert] soon compare him to American pharoah and Evenly. You think about all the good horses Bob had and all the good horses Todd had and it’s amazing to think that he’s in such an elite company. “
Walden, a former trainer, noticed in Life Is Good there are traits that set him apart from most other horses.
“What separates Life is Good from the rest of the good horses I’ve been around is the fact that he’s never had a bad day,” he said. “Most horses will get a moderate workout over time, although they are very good horses, or they may look flat. This horse has never had a bad day on the track. It’s something, the more I’m around and the more I see, that’s characteristic of great people. ”
That Life Is Good, a 4-5 favorite under Irad Ortiz, Jr., won hardly come as a surprise, but few would have expected he could gallop so quickly. Knicks Go and unlocks 3 more lengths for your opponent. Walden said the plan is to do what it takes to stay ahead.
“That’s the game plan,” Walden said. “I know people say it’s hard to understand, but this horse was before Jackie’s Warrior at Saratoga in Allen Jerkens. Why is he not in front? Knicks Go? I know Knicks Go is a great horse and a worthy champion, but I have no doubt that he can rise to that with Knicks Go. I’m not saying I think he’s going to be three or four lengths in front of him, but I never thought he’d roll back at his pace, just because of what happened in Saratoga. . To stand in front of Jackie’s Warrior like him, it shows the speed and sport that Life Is Good has. “
