Liam's Map

Deterministic (c, 3, Liam's Map--Giulio's Jewel, by Speightstown), tabbed as a 'TDN Rising Star' in a visually impressive, come-from-behind debut score after a slow start going seven furlongs at Saratoga Aug. 12, fired fresh off the bench to capture Saturday's GIII Gotham S. at a rain-soaked Aqueduct. Working up a storm for trainer Christophe Clement this winter at Payson Park in Florida, including a five-furlong bullet in 1:01 4/5 (1/8) Feb. 17, Deterministic was well supported at odds of 7-2 here. The $625,000 KEESEP yearling purchase raced in an inside...

Sporting the distinctive gold square on the front and back of Luis Saez's silks, it was first time starter Amor Fati (Liam's Map) who loved the lead and never relinquished it en route to becoming a 'TDN Rising Star' at Gulfstream Park on Sunday afternoon. The $375,000 Keeneland September grad posted a number of sharp works for trainer Brittany Russell over the past two months at her Palm Meadows base. Debuting as the 2-1 favorite here, the gray rocketed to the lead up the backstretch. Setting a strong pace up...

With a pair entered from his shedrow, Brad Cox's barn celebrated as Bergen (Liam's Map) took home the Jimmy Winkfield S. and stablemate Air Cav (Mitole) finished third. The winner broke his maiden at first asking by 3/4 length at Keeneland Oct. 7, but could not keep the streak going when he was late getting to the wire as the runner-up at Churchill Downs Nov. 25. Facing only four others as the well-backed 4-5 choice here, the grey took up a spot to the outside in the second flight up...

Foaling season is off to a flying start at Taylor Made Farm as they're already up to nearly a dozen foals on the ground. Everything has gone smoothly so far, but a real showstopper came early when they welcomed the first foal by Horse of the Year Flightline. A star-faced bay filly with a bit of chrome on her hind legs, the new arrival is also the first foal out of Grade I winner Juju's Map (Liam's Map). "It's really a blessing to have such a well-bred horse here," said...

6th-GP, $89k, Msw, 3yo, 6f, post time: 2:39 p.m. ET TURN UP THE TREES (Liam's Map) cost $100,000 as a foal at the 2021 Keeneland November Sale before St. Elias Stable paid $500,000 for the bay at Keeneland September less than a year later, the fourth-priciest of 58 of his sire's yearlings sold in 2022. A son of the Grade III-placed Clearbrook (Smart Strike), Turn Up the Trees descends from the family of stallions Sky Mesa and Bernstein. Sicilian Defense (Uncle Mo) is a maternal grandson of GSW/GISP Molto Vita...

Now we're really entering nosebleed altitudes for most breeders, between $30,000 and $50,000: a zone where you should feel that you're improving the odds of coming up with an elite horse. It tells you a lot about our business that the majority of the two dozen stallions operating at this level can only do so because they have yet to send a single runner into the starting gate. A quarter of these we immediately set to one side, as absolute beginners, because those received separate consideration in the opening instalment...

Conditioner Linda Rice reports that Garland of Roses victress Hot Fudge (Liam's Map) has come out of her first stakes victory 'feeling great' after taking the listed eight days removed from visiting the winner's circle in an optional claimer. She is unbeaten since her return from a near six-month layoff, and her 2023 campaign has seen the filly take home five wins in seven starts. "That filly, we've had a few strange things happen with her when she was young, and then she had such a nice winter. We elected...

In this series, we will have a look at American-bred first-time juvenile starters (through the end of 2023) and debuting 3-year-olds in maiden races at the tracks of the Emirates Racing Authority--predominantly Meydan and occasionally Jebel Ali--with a specific focus on pedigree and/or performance in a sales ring in the meetings leading up to the Dubai World Cup program Saturday, Mar. 30, 2024. Meydan will host racing mainly on Fridays, with the exception of Super Saturday Mar. 2 and Dubai World Cup night. Here are the horses of interest for...

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Kyoto and Niigata Racecourses. The weekend feature takes place at Tokyo on Sunday, when Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) returns to action in defense of his title in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) against a top field. Read Heather Anderson's...

8th-KEE, $100k, Msw, 2yo, 6 1/2f, 4:44p.m. ET After the turf marathon mares dazzle the Kentucky crowd in Keeneland's GIII Dowager S. a race prior, the juveniles will take to the main track to open their dockets in this maiden dash led by Pin Oak Stud's PHANTOM SPEED (Arrogate) from the rail. A $700,000 KEESEP purchase, the grey is a half-brother to GSW Biddy Duke (Bayern) who hails from the extended female family of juvenile champion MGISW Forte (Uncle Mo); Japanese Triple Crown winner, three-time champion MG1SW Contrail (Jpn) (Deep...

Quality Road (Elusive Quality), the sire of 17 stakes winners in 2023 including GI Preakness S. hero National Treasure, will stand the 2024 breeding season for $200,000, the same fee he commanded in 2023. The 17-year-old stallion, is responsible for an additional five winners at the graded level this season, including 'TDN Rising Star' Agate Road, who makes his next appearance in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita Nov. 3. Accordingly, it has been a strong yearling sales season for Quality Road, who was represented at the...

It's not often one is surprised when a 1-2 favorite wins, but Liam's Map had such a tumultuous trip in the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile after a history of front-running scores that he had every right to lose. "I like the way he did it," said Javier Castellano, who also had won the GI Woodward with the horse the month before. "He had missed the break. [Todd] Pletcher told me, 'Make sure he breaks good and get a good position,' but when the gate opened, he missed the break....