Liam's Map

Colonel Liam (Liam's Map) remains on course for a three-peat effort in the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Jan. 28.  Now 6-years-old, Colonel Liam was among a dozen horses on the initial invite list to the Pegasus Turf, released Wednesday. "He seems like he's in good shape, so we're still planning on the Pegasus Turf assuming that he trains accordingly," Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said. Pletcher also said the Pegasus World Cup is under consideration for Pioneer of Medina (Pioneerof the Nile). "I think it's on the...

Robert and Lawana Low's Colonel Liam (Liam's Map) will line up in Saturday's GII Fort Lauderdale S. at Gulfstream Park as the lone prep for his attempt at a third consecutive victory in the $1-million GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational. The gray was last seen finishing ninth in the G1 Dubai Turf at Meydan Mar. 26. "Ideally, we wanted a little bit more time between races back to the Pegasus, but it is what it is," trainer Todd Pletcher said. "He runs well off the layoff so, hopefully, he...

In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. Off as the 2-1 favorite on debut, it was an uphill battle from the start for Effortlesslyelgant (f, 2, Liam's Map--County Clare, by Uncle Mo) at Churchill Downs Nov. 23. "It was kind of what I'd call a nightmare scenario, but that's horse racing," owner Alex Lieblong said with a laugh. Off a beat slowly from post three, the $475,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase was on the move...

Quality Road will lead the pack at the Lane's End stallion barn for the 2023 breeding season, standing for $200,000. Up from $150,000 in 2022, the 16-year-old is responsible for 2022 GI New York S. winner Bleecker Street, GII Rebel S. runner-up Ethereal Road, GI American Pharoah S. runner-up National Treasure, as well as three new 'TDN Rising Stars.' In the sales ring, he had seven yearlings bring seven figures at the 2022 Keeneland September Sale, including the $2.5-million colt who topped the sale. At $75,000, the same fee he...

LEXINGTON, KY - The Fasig-Tipton October Yearlings Sale continued its pace to another record-setting renewal with a solid day of trade during its third session Wednesday in Lexington. Through three sessions, 804 yearlings have grossed $41,540,500. Following three sessions a year ago, the gross was $39,511,600 before the auction concluded it fourth session with an all-time high aggregate of $52,607,500. The average of $51,667 is up 11.9% from the same point of the 2021 auction and the median is up 19% to $25,000. Still well ahead of the record figures...

Wicked Whisper (Liam's Map - Zayanna, by Bernardini) made quite an impression in Saratoga during the summer of 2019 when she cruised to a 6 1/4-length juvenile maiden win and earned 'TDN Rising Star' status. That victory was just the beginning for the striking chestnut, who went on to become a Grade I winner at two and a graded winner at three. Now, she prepares to go through the ring at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale carrying her first foal by Curlin. "Wicked Whisper has every ingredient to be a foundation...

9th-Belmont The Big A, $77,000, (S), Msw, 9-29, 2yo, 6f, 1:13.75, ft, 3/4 length. SHADOW DRAGON (c, 2, Army Mule--Fire Assay {GSP, $127,946}, by Medaglia d'Oro), dispatched at a tepid 7-1 in his first start since bringing $375,000 at OBSAPR off a :21 1/5 breeze, was forced towards the rail at the break and quickly found himself trailing the field with only one rival beat. Kept just off the rail into the far turn, he angled out at the top of the stretch and began picking off horses under a...

The Classic season is over. A surface reading shows that Arrogate (Unbridled's Song), Keen Ice (Curlin), and Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}) got the GI Kentucky Oaks, GI Kentucky Derby, and GI Preakness S. winners, respectively, from their first crops, and proven star sire Uncle Mo (Indian Charlie), who had a Derby winner from his first crop in 2016, sired the GI Belmont S. winner. Sometimes, however, what's between the lines is as important as what's on the page, and Taylor Made's Not This Time (Giant's Causeway), whose second-crop sons...

4th-Churchill Downs, $134,897, Alw (NW2$X)/Opt. Clm ($62,500), 5-6, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16m, 1:43.35, ft, 4 3/4 lengths. JUJU'S MAP (f, 3, Liam's Map--Nagambie, by Flatter), back in action after six month freshening, was the 1-2 favorite off a juvenile campaign that included a win in the GI Darley Alcibiades S. Oct. 9 and a placing behind champion 2-year-old filly Echo Zulu (Gun Runner) in the GI NetJets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Nov. 5 at Del Mar. Racing for the first time as a 3-year-old with Lasix, Juju's Map was off...

The first thing that will strike most people about the emergence of Epicenter on the Derby trail is the way only his second crop of sophomores is putting up in neon lights the name of Not This Time. The GII Risen Star S. winner is lighting a path for several other sons of the Taylor Made stallion, notably fast-closing GIII Holy Bull runner-up Simplification and Saturday's GII Rebel S. fancy Chasing Time. Two others, Howling Time and In Due Time, are learning their scripts in readiness for forthcoming rehearsals in...

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher joined the TDN Writers' Room presented by Keeneland Tuesday fresh off of a pair of seven-figure wins at Gulfstream and amid one of the hottest streaks of his training life. Sitting down with Joe Bianca, Bill Finley and Jon Green as the Green Group Guest of the Week, Pletcher talked about Life Is Good's dazzling win in the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. and what's next for the superstar son of Into Mischief, a planned Dubai trip for MGISW turfer Colonel Liam (Liam's...

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL--Heading into this year's GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational S., defending champ Colonel Liam (Liam's Map) was clearly the one to beat despite coming back off a 239-day layoff. The Robert and Lawana Low runner once again proved he was all class when coming from off the pace to best stablemate Never Surprised (Constitution) in Gulfstream's marquee test on the turf. While best known for his dirt runners, trainer Todd Pletcher once again showed he not only knows how to prepare top turf runners, but also underscored...