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Colonel Liam Outclasses Rivals in Muniz Memorial

Two years ago, Bricks and Mortar (Giant's Causeway) parlayed a victory in the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf into a battling success in the GII Mervin Muniz Memorial S. and–ultimately–a Horse of the Year title. Following in those considerable hoofprints, Robert and Lawana Low's Colonel Liam (Liam's Map) validated odds-on favoritism in the event named in honor of the Fair Grounds' late, beloved racing secretary to continue on a similar trajectory, scoring by a 1 1/2-length margin that belied the ease with which it was accomplished.

Away without incident from gate three in a field scratched down to 10, including defending champion Factor This (The Factor), the $1.2-million second-priciest horse at the 2019 OBS April Sale was a touch fresh while in search of some cover early as he easily secured a ground-saving spot, but settled better turning up the backstretch as Two Emmys (English Channel) called the shots up front. Allowed to creep into closer contention as the field reached the half-mile pole, Colonel Liam traveled strongly on the turn and pushed away from the inside 2 1/2 furlongs out, looking every bit a winner. Asked for his best and shaken up passing the quarter pole, the big gray colt claimed the game pacesetter at the furlong grounds and pulled comfortably clear. Logical Myth (Data Link) rallied from the backfield to snag third money.

The 2 3/4-length winner of his turf debut at Saratoga last July 22, Colonel Liam gave the Aug. 15 $500,000 Saratoga Derby a big shake, closing off with a flourish to finish fourth, beaten 3/4 of a length behind Domestic Spending (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and Gufo (Declaration of War), later first and third, respectively, in the GI Hollywood Derby. Freshened up thereafter, Colonel Liam proved 3 1/4 lengths too strong for his peers in the Dec. 26 Tropical Park Derby and found his best stride late in besting his stablemate Largent (Into Mischief) by a neck in the Pegasus. Like Bricks and Mortar, Colonel Liam is likely to proceed to the GI Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic on the GI Kentucky Derby undercard May 1.

Pedigree Notes:

Colonel Liam is the one of four graded winners and three Grade I winners for Liam's Map and is bred on the same cross as 'TDN Rising Star' Wicked Whisper. Colonel Liam is one of two winners from four to race for his dam, an unraced daughter of the Phillipses MGISW turf distaffer Wonder Again, whose full-brother Grass Wonder was the champion 2-year-old of his generation in Japan and later won the Takarazuka Kinen over 2200 meters (11 furlongs) and the 2500-meter (12.5-furlong) Arima Kinen on two occasions before embarking on a stud career. This is also the same female family responsible for GSW Hopeful Growth (Tapiture). Amazement is the dam of Colonel Liam's 3-year-old half-sister Lovely Dee (Shackleford), a juvenile colt by Tapiture and a yearling colt by the late Arrogate, like Liam's Map a son of Unbridled's Song. She most recently visited Copper Bullet (More Than Ready).

Saturday, Fair Grounds
MUNIZ MEMORIAL CLASSIC S.-GII, $300,000, Fair Grounds, 3-20, 4yo/up, 1 1/8mT, 1:48.33, gd.
1–COLONEL LIAM, 124, c, 4, by Liam's Map
1st Dam: Amazement, by Bernardini
2nd Dam: Wonder Again, by Silver Hawk
3rd Dam: Ameriflora, by Danzig
($50,000 Ylg '18 KEESEP; $1,200,000 2yo '19 OBSAPR). O-Lawana L & Robert E Low; B-Phillips Racing Partnership (KY); T-Todd A Pletcher; J-Irad Ortiz Jr. $180,000. Lifetime Record: 7-5-0-1, $870,965. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Two Emmys, 118, g, 5, English Channel–Miss Emmy, by Buddha. ($4,500 Ylg '17 KEESEP). O-Wolfe Racing LLC & Hugh H Robertson; B-Tottenwood Thoroughbreds Inc. (KY); T-Hugh H Robertson. $60,000.
3–Logical Myth, 122, g, 5, Data Link–Undo, by Flatter. ($37,000 Ylg '17 KEESEP). O-JPS Racing; B-Glendalough LLC (KY); T-Joe Sharp. $30,000.
Margins: 1HF, 3HF, NK. Odds: 0.70, 24.70, 10.30.
Also Ran: Pixelate, Ninety One Assault, Captivating Moon, Peace Achieved, Conviction Trade, Spooky Channel, Olympic Runner. Scratched: Cross Border, Factor This.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

The post Colonel Liam Outclasses Rivals in Muniz Memorial appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Oxbow’s Hot Rod Charlie Scores Gutsy Win in Louisiana Derby

Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow), the 94-1 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile runner-up, was sent to the front in a heady ride by Joel Rosario, and refused to lose, turning back Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow) to win going away by two lengths in Saturday's GII TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby. O Besos (Orb) rallied nicely up the rail to just miss second by a head.

The 5-2 second choice broke inward and bumped with a rival at the start. He led through fractions of :23.10 and :47.04 with Midnight Bourbon shadowing his every move. Midnight Bourbon, winner of the GIII Lecomte S. and a last out third in the GII Risen Star S., reached even terms as they hit the quarter pole and looked to be going the better of the two, but Hot Rod Charlie had another gear once switching over and dug down gamely to post a career high while establishing a new track record.

“I wanted to get a little position,” Rosario said. “It didn't look like there was much speed in the race. He broke well and in the first turn I found myself on the lead. Working with him in the morning, he relaxes and you don't have to get him in the race. It worked out really well. He handled the distance very well. Very impressive. With the horse coming on his outside [Midnight Bourbon], he really fought back. He doesn't have to be on the lead. He can do anything. He can be a little bit off the pace and will run the same way.”

Favored Risen Star hero Mandaloun (Into Mischief) sat a good trip on the outside just behind the leaders, but had little run for the stretch after a wide journey, fading to finish a well-beaten sixth.

“He was flat and we're disappointed,” trainer Brad Cox said. “There's no other way to say it. I don't know. I have no excuse right now, we'll just have to see.”

A narrow maiden winner while showing speed at fourth asking at Santa Anita Oct. 2, Hot Rod Charlie followed his huge come-from-behind run at Keeneland–beaten only three quarters by champion Essential Quality (Tapit)–with a game third in a roughly run stretch drive of the GIII Robert B. Lewis S. last time Jan. 30. Essential Quality kicked off his sophomore campaign with an impressive score in Oaklawn's GIII Southwest S.

With trainer Doug O'Neill currently serving a 10-day suspension for a positive Lidocaine finding, Hot Rod Charlie was saddled by his longtime assistant Leandro Mora.

“We are so extremely blessed,” said winning co-owner Patrick O'Neill of Boat Racing. “I just missed a phone call from Doug and Dennis [O'Neill] my uncles. It's a family affair, but we added friends and we couldn't be more fortunate. What an amazing horse. An amazing sport. We're going to the Kentucky Derby, hopefully, ya know.”

Pedigree Notes:

Hot Rod Charlie, a half-brother to champion sprinter Mitole (Eskendereya), becomes the third graded winner and sixth blacktype winner for his classic-winning sire.

Indian Miss, a homebred for the late Edward A. Cox Jr. and a maiden of two career starts, brought $1.9 million from Larry Best's OXO Equine in foal to Into Mischief at last year's Keeneland November Sale.

Her 2-year-old filly by leading sire Into Mischief brought $525,000–also from Best's OXO Equine–at last year's Keeneland September Sale. She also has a colt by Into Mischief of this year. Indian Miss is a half-sister to late graded winner Live Lively (Medaglia d'Oro).

Saturday, Louisiana Derby
TWINSPIRES.COM LOUISIANA DERBY-GII, $1,000,000, Fair Grounds, 3-20, 3yo, 1 3/16m, 1:55.06, ft.
1–HOT ROD CHARLIE, 122, c, 3, by Oxbow
                1st Dam: Indian Miss, by Indian Charlie
                2nd Dam: Glacken's Gal, by Smoke Glacken
                3rd Dam: Lady Diplomat, by Silver Deputy
   1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($17,000 Ylg
'19 FTKFEB; $110,000 Ylg '19 FTKOCT). O-Roadrunner Racing,
Boat Racing, LLC & William Strauss; B-Edward A. Cox (KY);
T-Leandro Mora; J-Joel Rosario. $610,000. Lifetime Record:
7-2-1-2, $1,005,700. *1/2 to Mitole (Eskendereya), Ch. Male
Sprinter, MGISW, $3,104,910. Werk Nick Rating: A+.
   Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Midnight Bourbon, 122, c, 3, Tiznow–Catch the Moon, by
Malibu Moon. ($525,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-Winchell
Thoroughbreds LLC; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC
(KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen. $200,000.
3–O Besos, 122, c, 3, Orb–Snuggs and Kisses, by Soto.
O-Bernard Racing LLC, Tagg Team Racing & West Point
Thoroughbreds; B-L. Barrett Bernard (KY); T-Gregory D. Foley.
$100,000.
Margins: 2, HD, 1 3/4. Odds: 2.90, 7.20, 28.80.
Also Ran: Proxy, Starrininmydreams, Mandaloun, Rightandjust, Run Classic. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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Travel Column Avenges Loss To Clairiere With Dominating Performance In Fair Grounds Oaks

OXO Equine's Travel Column avenged her loss to Clairiere in the Grade 2 Rachel Alexandria with a dominating performance in Saturday's Grade 2, $400,000 Fair Grounds Oaks at Fair Grounds racetrack in New Orleans, La.

Ridden by Florent Geroux, the Brad Cox-trained 3-year-old daughter of Frosted was always prominent, tracking pacesetter Souper Sensation until cruising to the lead at the top of the stretch and drawing off impressively for the victory. She was timed in 1:42.75 for the 1 1/16 miles on a fast track and paid $6.20 as the favorite in the field of seven 3-year-old fillies. Moon Swag scratched.

Clairiere, bottled up early near the back of the field in the early going, was up late to finish second ahead of Souper Sensational, with Obligatory fourth.

The top four finishers earned 100-40-20-10 qualifying points for the Kentucky Oaks, to be run at Churchill Downs on April 30.

The victory was the third in five starts for Travel Column, who broke her maiden at Churchill Downs last Sept. 4 and then finished third in the G1 Alcibiades at Keeneland before winning the G2 Golden Rod at Churchill Downs in her 2-year-old finale, edging Clairiere by a length. She lost the Rachel Alexandra to that rival last out but proved superior in the Fair Grounds Oaks.

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Frosted’s Travel Column Turns The Tables on Clairiere in FG Oaks

'TDN Rising Star' Travel Column (Frosted) and the regally bred Clairiere (Curlin) have developed a competitive rivalry as they proceed down the GI Kentucky Oaks trail, with one apiece from their two prior meetings. Saturday's GII Twinspires.com Fair Grounds Oaks was billed as another match race between the two and it was Travel Column who broke the tie with a decisive score over Clairiere.

Awarded 2-1 favoritism over her familiar foe, Travel Column came away running from her outside post in this eight-horse affair, but was out-footed to the lead by fellow 'TDN Rising Star' Souper Sensational (Curlin). The gray was content with pressing the pace from second through opening splits of :24.35 and :48.64 with Clairiere still yet to be heard from in her preferred position near the back of the pack. Turning up the heat a bit on the backstretch run, Travel Column seized command with five-sixteenths left to travel and stormed clear of her competition in the lane for a decisive victory. Clairiere tried to reel in the winner with a three-wide bid in the stretch, but failed to switch leads until the final strides and was never a serious threat, finishing 2 3/4 lengths back in second before galloping out in front.

A decisive debut winner at Churchill Downs Sept. 4, Travel Column checked in third in the GI Darley Alcibiades S. at Keeneland next out Oct. 2. Besting Clairiere for the first time when rallying from well back in the GII Golden Rod S. back at Churchill Nov. 28, the $850,000 FTSAUG buy changed tactics, attending the pace in the Feb. 13 GII Rachel Alexandra S., but was run down by Clairiere in the final strides to be second by a neck.

Pedigree Notes:

Travel Column is the only graded winner and one of two black-type victors from the first crop of MGISW Frosted with the other being Australian MSW & G1SP Ingratiating (Aus), who starts in the postponed G1 Golden Slipper S. next Saturday. She is also one 19 graded scorers and 34 black-type winners out of a daughter of Victory Gallop. Bayne and Christina Welker acquired Travel Column's dam Swingit for just $50,000 at the 2016 Keeneland November Sale carrying a foal by Bodemeister and she has proven to be the bargain of a lifetime. That Bodemeister foal was a colt, who brought $310,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale, and Travel Column summoned $850,000 at the same auction a year later. The Saratoga Sale was delayed to September, combined with the July Sale and New York-Bred Sale and moved to Kentucky, but the result for Swingit's latest foal was still a home run, in fact, her biggest to date. Her 2019 colt by American Pharoah–a May 5 foal now named Corton Charlemagne–summoned $1.25 million from bloodstock agent Marette Farrell, who was acting on behalf of Speedway Stables. The 17-year-old mare produced a City of Light colt May 13 of last year and was bred back to Audible.

Saturday, Fair Grounds
TWINSPIRES.COM FAIR GROUNDS OAKS-GII, $400,000, Fair Grounds, 3-20, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:42.75, ft.
1–TRAVEL COLUMN, 122, f, 3, by Frosted
1st Dam: Swingit (MSW, $345,353), by Victory Gallop
2nd Dam: Free Ransom, by Our Native
3rd Dam: Pay the Ransom, by J. O. Tobin
'TDN Rising Star' ($850,000 Ylg '19 FTSAUG). O-OXO Equine
LLC; B-Mr. & Mrs. Bayne Welker Jr. & Denali Stud (KY); T-Brad
Cox; J-Florent Geroux. $248,000. Lifetime Record: GISP,
5-3-1-1, $517,184. *1/2 to Neolithic (Harlan's Holiday),
G1SP-UAE, MGISP-USA, $2,278,028. Werk Nick Rating:
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Clairiere, 122, f, 3, Curlin–Cavorting, by Bernardini.
O-Stonestreet Stables LLC; B-Stonestreet
Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen.
$80,000.
3–Souper Sensational, 122, f, 3, Curlin–Kateri, by Indian
Charlie. 'TDN Rising Star' ($725,000 Ylg '19 FTSAUG). O-Live
Oak Plantation; B-Newtownanner Stud (KY); T-Mark E. Casse.
$40,000.
Margins: 2 3/4, 2, 2 3/4. Odds: 2.10, 3.40, 13.60.
Also Ran: Obligatory, Li'l Tootsie, Zaajel, Il Malocchio. Scratched: Moon Swag. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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