In a performance that lived up to the hype and then some, John Sadler’s freakishly good Flightline waltzed to an 11 ½ length victory in Santa Anita’s traditional Winter Spring Opening Day feature, the Grade I, $300,000 Runhappy Malibu Stakes. Ridden by Flavien Prat, Flightline, who is now unbeaten in three starts by a combined 37 ½ lengths, lengths, got seven furlongs in 1:21.37.

Never challenged at any point, Flightline fairly jogged home in a manner that reminded veteran players of some of the best sprinters that have ever graced the Santa Anita main track. With Prat sitting dead still turning for home, he actually seemed to hit his best stride on the gallop out into the Club House turn.

A 12 ¾ length allowance winner going six furlongs on Sept. 5 at Del Mar, Flightline, a bay colt by Tapit, was off at 2-5 in a field of seven sophomores and paid $2.80, $2.40 and $2.20.

Owned by Hronis Racing, LLC, Summer Wind Equine, LLC, West Point Thoroughbreds, et al, Flightline, who is out of the Indian Charlie mare Feathered, picked up $180,000 for the win, increasing his earnings to $259,800.

In a separate race, Baby Yoda, an attentive third to the top of the lane, outfinished Stilleto Boy by a length for the place. Ridden by Jose Ortiz, Baby Yoda was off at 16-1 and paid $8.40 and $4.60.

Ridden by Kent Desormeaux, Stilleto Boy finished 6 ¼ lengths clear of Triple Tap and paid $4.00 to show while off at 19-1.

Fractions on the race, all set by the winner, were 22.01, 44.48 and 1:08.72.

Run as the 10th race on an 11-race Opening Day card, the Runhappy Malibu was one of six stakes on the program.