Gearing up for his third consecutive appearance in the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes (G1T) on January 28—the race he has won over the past two years—Colonel Liam back in operation after a nine-month shutdown in the $200,000 Fort Lauderdale Stakes (G2T) at Gulfstream Park December 31st.
Absent since finishing ninth in the DP World-sponsored Dubai Turf (G1) in Meydan on March 26, the 5-year-old gray horse must weather a wide draw alongside any fatigue. He landed in 12th place in a 1/8 mile field match against sharp opponents city man and king cause .
However, his luck at the draw was better than Decorated Invaders one also qualifies needing a scratch to enter the overflow race.
Colonel Liam, 7-11 overall with $1.8 million in earnings, raced five times at Gulfstream with four wins and a third for Hall of Fame coach Todd Pletcher.
“That’s obviously a big factor to it,” Jacob West, race manager for owners Robert and Lawana Low, said of Colonel Liam’s winter return trip to South Florida. “There’s no rush to bring him back because we know that eventually bringing him back to Gulfstream will be what he wants. Now it’s all starting to work out.”
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Pletcher attempted to prepare him for an optional claimant on December 15, but the horse failed to compete after also qualifying and after the race was moved to the synthetic Tapeta surface of Gulfstream after rainy weather.
Pletcher previously won Fort Lauderdale with big (2020), Mshawish (2015), and silver medal (2012).
“He’s doing really well. He’s training well,” Pletcher said. “We wanted to do a prep race with him against the Pegasus Turf, and it didn’t work out with the allowance race, so we ended up in Fort Lauderdale. He drew a pretty wide post, but hopefully he can make it through the trip from there.
“He’s always run some good races in Gulfstream,” he added. “He’s been sharp and feels good. He’s gotten through his previous layoff; hopefully he can do it again. We’d love for him to run well and move forward. for the next time.”
Irad Ortiz Jr. favorite equestrian on May 8th, who weighs 123 lbs.
Colonel Liam has to deal with a number of high-profile New York invaders who have traveled to Florida for winter turf races. Among these are City Man and King’s Cause, both of which are graded winners in 2022. City Man won the Forbidden Apple Staking (G3T) this summer at Racecourse Saratoga and has maintained stellar performance in the New York breeding company since then, and King Cause won the Knickerbocker Stakes (G3T) for the last time on October 9 during a Belmont meet at Big A. Both together. shoulder a high weight of 126 lbs.
Christophe Clement trains City Man, just as he trains the Decorated Invaders.
Mike Maker trains King Cause and also shadow sphinx Runner-up in Artie Schiller Stakes at Aqueduct race track November 13
Fly Storm Thunders into the Suwannee River
Two races before the ninth Fort Lauderdale race, the mares competed in the $125,000 Suwannee River Stakes (G3T) at the one mile.
Her endurance test is the Bridlewood Ranch’s endurance sprinter Bay storm who almost beat the winner of group 1 Bell Flower in the Mint Ladies Sprint Stakes (G3T) lasted six furlongs at Kentucky Downs September 10. The Suwannee River will mark her first two-round and long-distance start for coach Jonathan Thomas.
Scottish star , Stolen vacation and rock star lady opposition leader.
Item: Ft. Lauderdale S. (G2T)
Gulfstream ParkSaturday, December 31, 2022, Race No. 9
- Class II
- 1 1/8m
- pitch
- 200,000 USD
- 3 years old and up
- 4:10pm (local)
Item: Suwannee River S. (G3T)
Gulfstream ParkSaturday, December 31, 2022, Race No. 7
- Class IIIT
- 1m
- pitch
- $125,000
- 3 years and older Fillies and Mares
- 3:09 pm (local)
