Lane's End buys interest in Liam's Map

Lane’s End has acquired an interest in Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile morning-line favorite Liam’s Map, who is campaigned by Teresa Viola Racing Stables.

By Unbridled’s Song, the 4-year-old Liam’s Map has won 5 of 7 career starts, including a 4 3/4-length win in the Grade 1 Woodward Stakes on Sept. 5 at Saratoga. Trained by Todd Pletcher, he will be making his fourth start of the year in the Oct. 30 BC Dirt Mile.

An $800,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase, Liam’s Map won 3 of 4 starts at 4, after being unraced at 2, ending his sophomore year with a win in the Harlan’s Holiday Stakes at Gulfstream while posting a Beyer Speed Figure of 112. At 4, he was second by a neck to Honor Code in the Whitney Stakes, earning a 113 Beyer, and in the Woodward he recorded a career-best 114 Beyer. Lane’s End co-owns Honor Code, who is one of the top horses in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Oct. 31.

“We’re thrilled to be involved with a horse of the quality of Liam’s Map,” said Will Farish, owner of Lane’s End in Versailles, Ky. “The Woodward is a very important race, and we’ve been very lucky with past winners like Quality Road, Saint Liam, and Lemon Drop Kid that have gone on to be very successful stallions. His speed figures are unbelievable. His ability to go that fast that far is uncanny. He’s only the second wire-to-wire winner of that race in over 20 years while posting one of the best times in recent memory.

“Vincent and Teresa Viola are very prominent in the Thoroughbred business today. We are very excited to stand their first stallion at stud, especially a horse the caliber of Liam’s Map.”

Said Teresa Viola, “I have loved Liam since the day we bought him. He has been a very special horse to our family. Vinnie and I plan on doing everything we can to help him succeed at stud. We are thrilled to have him going to Lane’s End, the home of so many great stallions.”

Bred by Albaugh Family Stable, Liam’s Map is out of the Grade 3-winning, track-record-setting mare Miss Macy Sue, who won 11 races over four seasons and earned $880,915. Miss Macy Sue traces to the family of foundation mare Aspidistra, dam of Horse of the Year Dr. Fager and multiple champion sprinter Ta Wee and ancestress of champion and Kentucky Derby winner Unbridled.