Pletcher Confirms Colonel Liam For ’23 Pegasus

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 radar,” he said. “We'll see how he trains. I've got to talk to the owner, and we'll come up with a plan. He's not a horse that really shows that much speed but he got a good start and put himself in a good spot, and he was traveling well. I thought it was a good effort from him. It looked like he fought on hard to the wire and was able to get [up] for second.”

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Pegasus Prep for Colonel Liam in Fort Lauderdale

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 runs well there and moves forward for the big one.”

Colonel Liam is drawn widest of all in post 12 with Irad Ortiz, Jr. aboard.

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Second Chances: Nightmare Debut ‘Effort’ for Liam’s Map Filly

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 and traveling nicely to race in a close seventh as the field of 12 bunched up through an opening quarter in a swift :21.81 for their six-furlong journey.

Forced to steady sharply in traffic nearing the three-eighths pole, Effortlesslyelgant had her work cut out for her with only two rivals beaten as they approached the top of the stretch. Quietly making some progress down the lane, jockey Ricardo Santana, Jr. tipped the gray out into the clear with a furlong remaining and she came blitzing home over the top in a field-best :12 to finish a promising fourth, beaten just 1 1/2 lengths behind fellow firster Neutralize (Runhappy).

Trained by Norm Casse, Effortlesslyelgant received a 66 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort.

“She was a tick slow coming out and then that one filly came over on her,” Lieblong said. “That started the rodeo and it just kept progressing. To be honest, I think at the end, Santana said, 'Well, I'm gonna let her relax and get her somewhat of a good feeling coming out of the race.' He never hit her with the stick–never touched her. It's a tough old game, but she looks like she has some talent.”

Effortlesslyelgant is the first runner that Lieblong has had with Casse. She will spend the winter at Oaklawn Park. The chairman of the Arkansas Racing Commission also recently sent horses to Riley Mott for the first time. The son of Hall of Famer Bill Mott won the first race of his fledgling training career in November.

“It's time to get some of these younger guys a leg up,” Lieblong said. “Because the industry needs 'em.”

Bred in Kentucky by Offshoot Farm LLC, Effortlesslyelgant is the first foal out of the unraced 8-year-old Uncle Mo mare County Clare, a half-sister to the ill-fated MGSW Indyanne (Indian Charlie). Effortlesslyelgant is bred on the same cross as Crazy Beautiful, one of seven graded winners for young sire Liam's Map. Lieblong has enjoyed previous success with the Lane's End stallion via GISW Wicked Whisper (Liam's Map), who sold for $2.9 million to Whisper Hill Farm at last month's Fasig-Tipton November sale.

“We were really tickled with the filly and her family,” Lieblong said of Effortlesslyelgant. “She looked a lot like Indyanne, who Bo Hunt had also purchased. I like Liam's Map–he can get you a good horse.”

The 'Second Chances' honor roll is headed by two-time Breeders' Cup winner and new Ashford Stud stallion Golden Pal (Uncle Mo), GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby winner and Lane's End stallion Honor A. P. (Honor Code), GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner Cody's Wish (Curlin) and MGISW and 'TDN Rising Star' Paradise Woods (Union Rags).

This term's GI Carter H. winner and new Darley stallion Speaker's Corner (Street Sense), GI Preakness S. third-place finisher Creative Minister (Creative Cause), Curlin S. winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Artorius (Arrogate) and Cinema S. winner and GII Del Mar Derby third War At Sea (War Front) have also been featured in the series.

Other standouts include: GSW Moonlight d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro), GSW & MGISP Spielberg (Union Rags), GSW Backyard Heaven (Tizway), MSW and 'TDN Rising Star' Gidu (Ire) (Frankel {GB}); and GISP A Mo Reay (Uncle Mo).

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Quality Road Heads Lane’s End 2023 Roster At $200,000

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 stood for in 2022, Candy Ride (Arg) continues to command the farm's second-highest fee.

First-year stallion City of Light, represented by three black-type winners from his first crop, stands alongside his sire Quality Road and holds steady at $60,000. A Top 10 freshman sire in North America by earnings, City of Light has sired eight winners, including GI Darley Alcibiades S. runner-up and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies pre-entry Chop Chop.

The entire roster, with fees for 2023, will be:

Accelerate – $10,000

Candy Ride (Arg) – $75,000

Catalina Cruiser – $15,000

City of Light – $60,000

Code of Honor – $7,500

Connect – $25,000

Daredevil – $20,000

Game Winner – $30,000

Gift Box – $7,500

Honor A.P. – $15,000

Honor Code – $20,000

Lexitonian – $7,500

Liam's Map – $40,000

Mineshaft – $10,000

Quality Road – $200,000

The Factor – $15,000

Tonalist – $10,000

Twirling Candy – $60,000

Unified – $7,500

Union Rags – $30,000

West Coast – $10,000

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