Colonel Liam bursts to lead, outruns Largent in Pegasus Turf

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Colonel Liam had never faced older turf horses, at least not in a stakes. No matter. The newly turned 4-year-old became a Grade 1 winner in style Saturday by leading a 1-2-4 finish for trainer Todd Pletcher in the $981,700 Pegasus World Cup Turf at Gulfstream Park.

Getting a savvy ride from Irad Ortiz Jr., Colonel Liam burst to the front with about 100 yards to go after having to wait behind traffic in the final turn of the 1 3/16-mile grass race, and prevailed by a hard-fought neck over his Pletcher stablemate, Largent. It was two lengths back to Cross Border in third, while a third Pletcher runner, Social Paranoia, was fourth in the field of 12.

“I couldn’t be more pleased with the way they all ran,” Pletcher said.

Colonel Liam returned $7 as the favorite after finishing in 1:53.09 over firm going. The gray colt is owned by Robert and Lawana Low.

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“This is unreal, just fantastic,” Robert Low said afterward. “We had the horse, we had the trainer, we had the rider, and we got it done. We’re just very thankful.”

Colonel Liam, a $1.2 million purchase as a 2-year-old at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales in April 2019, was favored off his eye-catching triumph in his previous start, the ungraded Tropical Derby here Dec. 26. That race was restricted to 3-year-olds (of 2020).

“We loved the way he handled the turf in the Tropical Derby and had trained great since then,” Pletcher said. “We were very optimistic. He’s a little less experienced than some of the other horses, but I think this proves his quality.”

The Pegasus Turf unfolded with Storm the Court and Anothertwistafate leading through fractions of :23.59, :48.69, and 1:12.85, with Largent poised just behind them. Meanwhile, Ortiz sat chilly in mid-pack near the rail with plenty of horse beneath him, but it wasn’t until he swung for home that he was able to let his mount run freely. Colonel Liam responded with his winning rally as Ortiz let out a big whoop after passing under the wire.

“I was so happy to win this,” Ortiz said. As for his display of emotion, “I was thinking of my grandfather who passed away last year. He is with me always.”

Ortiz had kept Colonel Liam to his task when edging away from Largent, who had shot through a narrow opening along the rail as the early leaders faltered.

Paco Lopez rode Largent after winning the Grade 2 Fort Lauderdale here four weeks ago aboard the Virginia-bred 5-year-old. Largent “ran a hell of a race today and just was on the tough side of a stretch duel,” Pletcher said.

Colonel Liam, by Liam’s Map out of Amazement, by Bernardini, earned a career-high 99 Beyer Speed Figure in winning a graded race for the first time. He began his career last April with a win via disqualification over the Gulfstream main track, and after a third-place finish here in the slop, he joined Pletcher’s main string in Saratoga, switching to the turf. He immediately took his game up a few notches, winning a first-level allowance prior to finishing a close fourth in the Saratoga Derby. The colt then was off four months, returning with a flourish in the Tropical Derby.

“He showed us a lot of ability in his first couple of starts on the grass,” Pletcher said. “We felt like he was getting better and better.”

Low said running Colonel Liam back in the Dubai Duty Free in late March is a possibility, while deferring to Pletcher’s expertise as to when that decision might be made.

The $2 exacta (5-6) paid $28.20, the $1 trifecta (5-6-9) returned $192.10, and the 10-cent superfecta (5-6-9-12) was worth $114.32.

This was the third running of the Pegasus Turf. The winner of the 2019 inaugural over a soggy course was Bricks and Mortar, the eventual Horse of the Year, while the winner last January was Zulu Alpha, a finalist in the older turf-horse category at the upcoming 2020 Eclipse Awards.