Just as Flightline streaked light years ahead on the racetrack, so did the unbeaten phenom run away with Horse of the Year honors at Thursday night’s 52nd annual Eclipse Awards gala at The Breakers Palm Beach.

About four hours after younger stablemate Nest flaunted her class in the Beldame (G2), older star Malathaat likewise obliged as the odds-on favorite in Sunday’s Spinster (G1) at Keeneland.

A couple of champions are among the entries for a trio of Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series qualifiers taking place on an exciting Sunday at Keeneland.

Stonestreet Stables’ homebred Clairiere followed up her Ogden Phipps (G1) victory over Malathaat by beating the champion again in Sunday’s Shuvee (G2) at Saratoga.

The two Curlin bluebloods square off again in Sunday’s $200,000 Shuvee (G2) at Saratoga, where Malathaat bids to re-assert her superiority.

Recently named the World’s Best Racehorse of 2021 according to rankings by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities, Knicks Go was the runaway choice for Horse of the Year and champion older dirt male.

After skipping the Kentucky Derby (G1), Rombauer exploded from off the pace to win the Preakness S. (G1) going away at odds of 11.80-1. Now he’s expected to bid for divisional leadership in the June 5 Belmont S. (G1), where several Derby alumni and a few new shooters are likely to pose fresh challenges.