Colonel Liam, favored at 3-5 after winning the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational at Gulfstream Park in January, reeled in pacesetter Two Emmys in mid-stretch and went on to a 1 1/2-length victory in Saturday's Grade 2, $300,000 Muniz Memorial Classic Stakes at Fair Grounds in New Orleans, La.
Ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. for Todd Pletcher, the 4-year-old Liam's Map colt ran 1 1/8 miles on firm turf in 1:48.33 and paid $3.40 to win. The Muniz was the fifth victory in seven starts for the Robert and Lawana Low runner, who was bred in Kentucky by Phillips Racing Partnership and purchased for $1.2 million as a 2-year-old at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Co.'s April sale.
Two Emmys held second, with Logical Myth 3 1/2 lengths back third and Pixelate fourth in the field of 10 older runners. Factor This and Cross Border were scratched.
Ortiz had Colonel Liam in fourth position along the rail in the early going, then gained on Two Emmys while saving ground approaching the far turn. Colonel Liam came off the rail on the turn, engaged with Two Emmys and gradually pulling away under left-handed encouragement from his rider.
Colonel Liam was the 5-2 favorite in the Pegasus Turf, edging Pletcher stablemate Largent by a neck. That was his first graded victory, coming off a win in the listed Tropical Park Derby in late December at Gulfstream.
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