Five weeks later he started 1/2 odds on favorite for a similar event at Del Mar and won by more than four lengths after taking the lead a furlong from the finish.

On his final appearance of the year, Firing Line was moved up sharply in class to contest the Grade I Los Alamitos Futurity on December 20.

After racing in second place he overtook Mr Z to gain the advantage in the straight but was caught in the final strides and beaten a head by the favored Dortmund.

[8] On his three-year-old debut, Firing Line, ridden by Gary Stevens, contested the Grade III Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita on February 7 in which he received five pounds from Dortmund.

[9] On March 22, Firing Line ran in the Grade III Sunland Derby against six opponents and started 1/5 favorite despite an unfavorable inside draw.

Callaghan said that the colt "really ran the race he hoped he would... you can't ask more than that" whilst Stevens praised the winner's attitude saying "he probably handled things a lot better than I did.

[10] On May 2, Firing Line contested the 141st running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs and started 9.5/1 fourth choice in the betting behind American Pharoah, Dortmund and the Blue Grass Stakes winner Carpe Diem.

Former jockey and racing commentator Richard Migliore theorized that the "wall of noise" from the Derby crowd unnerved the horse and distracted him from his rider's commands.