Beau Liam has crowd buzzing in debut win

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Before the seven stakes were run Saturday at Churchill, a first-time starter named Beau Liam had the ontrack crowd buzzing. Trained by Steve Asmussen for owner-breeder Stonestreet Stables, the 3-year-old Liam’s Map colt earned a 94 Beyer in a 7 1/2-length romp, getting six furlongs in 1:08.62.

“It’s very exciting,” Asmussen said Monday. “He’d obviously shown talent in the mornings, but you never know until they do it in the afternoon.”

Asmussen said Beau Liam could make his second start before the Churchill spring meet ends June 26, or “we’ll possibly wait until Saratoga,” which starts July 15. A first-level allowance is the most likely spot. “We won’t get in a big hurry to run him in a stakes off just the one race,” he said.

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◗ Envoutante got an ideal prep for the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis with a 4 1/4-length romp Saturday in the Shawnee. The 4-year-old filly earned a 100 Beyer in jump-starting a terrific weekend for trainer Ken McPeek, who won the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita the following day with Crazy Beautiful.

Envoutante, said McPeek, “does well with a confidence-booster. She ran hard last out” when defeated just a length in the Grade 1 La Troienne, “and I’d like to win a Grade 1 with her down the road. I’m known for more ambitious spots, but I thought this race set her up for the Fleur de Lis” on June 26.

◗ Masqueparade continued his march toward the June 26 Ohio Derby with a five-furlong breeze in 1:00.40 Sunday for trainer Al Stall Jr. at Churchill. The Upstart colt got a 97 Beyer in his most recent start, a Kentucky Derby Day allowance romp.