Liam the Charmer nails elusive first stakes win

ARCADIA, Calif. - It took seven tries, but Liam the Charmer finally won his first stakes in Sunday’s Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship at Santa Anita.

“It’s a year and a half overdue,” trainer Michael McCarthy deadpanned in the winner’s circle.

Liam the Charmer finished fourth in the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes at Santa Anita in May 2017, closing from last to miss by three-quarters of a length. In the $200,345 John Henry Turf Championship, Liam the Charmer ($7.80) closed from last in a field of six to win by a half-length as the favorite.

The win could lead to a start in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Churchill Downs on Nov. 3.

“I’ll talk to everybody,” McCarthy said. “Maybe he bought himself a ticket to the Breeders’ Cup.”

Ridden by Florida-based jockey Tyler Gaffalione, Liam the Charmer ran 1 1/4 miles on turf in 1:58.01 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 98. The John Henry was the first stakes win at Santa Anita for Gaffalione, 24.

Gaffalione rode a patient race on Liam the Charmer, a 5-year-old gelding by Smart Strike. Gaffalione guided Liam the Charmer wide on the turn and caught pacesetter Ashleyluvssugar in the final sixteenth.

“Going into the far turn, I let him go in between horses and then kicked him out coming into the stretch,” Gaffalione said. “He really finished up nicely.”

Ashleyluvssugar, a 7-year-old gelding who has won six stakes, held second, finishing a length in front of Ya Gotta Wanna. Ann Arbor Eddie finished fourth, followed by Secretary at War, and Ritzy A.P.

Ashleyluvssugar, who won the 2017 Whittingham Stakes, had his best performance of 2018 in the Whittingham, his fifth start of the year.
“I couldn’t ask for anything more,” trainer Peter Eurton said. “He got his trip.”

The John Henry field was weakened on Saturday when Fashion Business, the winner of the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap on Aug. 18, was scratched because of an undisclosed injury. Fashion Business will be sidelined until 2019.

Liam the Charmer is unbeaten in two starts this year, having won his first start of the year in an allowance race with a $100,000 claiming option at Del Mar on Aug. 16.

“He ran super at Del Mar,” McCarthy said Sunday.

Owned by Madaket Stables, Liam the Charmer has won 5 of 14 starts and earned $319,571.

“I can’t say enough about this horse,” McCarthy said. “He’s like the furniture. Everybody loves him, everybody loves riding him.”