By Christina Bossinakis
After a significant delay and some confusion, Saratoga's fourth race of the afternoon ultimately went the way of Robert and Lawana Low's Liam's Law (Colonel Liam), who graduated by 1 1/4 lengths at the Spa on Sunday afternoon. Making his second career start for trainer Todd Pletcher, the Florida-bred became the first winner for his Freshman sire, MGISW Colonel Liam (Liam's Map), who was also campaigned by the Lows and Pletcher.
A distant fourth in the slop in an off-turf test at that Big A on May 24, the bay was installed the 2-1 choice to make amends on the turf this time. Sent straight to the from by Flavien Prat, the colt reeled off sensible opening splits of :24.27 and :48.90. Still in control turning for home, he drew clear and wouldn't give in as And the Runner Is (Oscar Performance) tried to close but failed to get up at the wire. Other horses highlighted in Sunday's TDN, Suspend (Tapit) was fifth, while Casino was sixth (Constitution). Antonelli (Golden Pal) was eighth.
During an interview with NYRA's Maggie Wolfendale, CRO and President of NYRA Bets Tony Allevato discussed the 40-minute delay prior to Sunday's fourth race.
“It is a bit of a perplexing situation. After the start of the card today, the jockeys approached us with some concern about the mile distance for a 2-year-old because of the shorter run-up to the turn than a one mile and a sixteenth race,” explained Allevato. “This is in spite of the fact that this race was drawn on Wednesday and we ran a race at this distance for 2-year-olds on Friday.”
He continued, “We ran two of these races last year, and seven of the 10 jockeys in this race ran the races last year. But this was brought to our attention as a concern after the start of the card and because of that, the safety always comes first, for both the safety of horses and riders, we made the decision to move it to 1 mile and a sixteenth.”
Liam's Law, a $120,000 OBS March Sale purchase by the Lows, follows in the footsteps of his sire, Colonel Liam, who was also secured OBS by the Lows. The Freshman sire previously realized $1.2 million at the April Sale in 2019 after selling at Keeneland September for $50,000.
Colonel Liam, who stands at Ocala Stud in Florida, earned over $1.8 million through three seasons on the racetrack. The winner of the Tropical Park Derby at three, he won the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf at four in addition to the GI Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic and GII Muniz Memorial Classic. At five, he repeated in the Pegasus World Cup Turf at Gulfstream Park.
The winner's dam, Quickasakitten, produced a filly by Win Win Win last season and followed up with a filly by Adios Charlie this term. She was bred back to Roadtser.
4th-Saratoga, $115,000, Msw, 7-12, 2yo, 1 1/16mT, 1:42.74, fm, 1 1/4 lengths.
LIAM'S LAW (c, 2, Colonel Liam–Quickasakitten, by Kitten's Joy) $120,000 2yo '26 OBSMAR. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $68,350. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. O-Lawana L. and Robert E. Low; B-Ocala Stud (FL); T-Todd A. Pletcher.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
