Liam's Map cruises in Woodward

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Trainer Todd Pletcher went into Saturday’s $600,000 Woodward Stakes believing it would be a great opportunity for Liam’s Map to win his first Grade 1 stakes while serving as a stepping-stone to the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on Oct. 30.

After Liam’s Map set solid fractions all the way around and continued on to win the Grade 1 Woodward by 4 3/4 lengths over Coach Inge, Pletcher says he may have some thinking to do as it relates to the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at 1 1/4 miles. But he wasn’t about to think about it Saturday afternoon.

“All options are on the table at this point,” Pletcher said after winning his third Whitney. “He’s run two really strong mile-and-an-eighth races. I don’t think there’s any question he’s a brilliant miler so we got some things to think about.”

Liam’s Map gave Pletcher his third win on Saturday’s card and second in a Grade 1 race as Rachel’s Valentina also took the Spinaway for 2-year-old fillies. The three wins gave Pletcher a 32-30 lead over Chad Brown in the trainer’s standings with two days remaining in the meet.

Liam’s Map won the Woodward after a crushing defeat in the Whitney on Aug. 8 when, after opening up a 4 1/2-length lead in midstretch, he was run down at the wire by Honor Code. That day, Liam’s Map ran an opening half-mile in 46.00 seconds and six furlongs in 1:09.72 under Mike Smith.

Saturday, with Javier Castellano up, Liam’s Map ran an opening half-mile in 47.49 seconds and six furlongs in 1:10.94 while maintaining a length advantage over Bay of Plenty, under Joel Rosario.

“It looked like Joel came way from there with the intention of putting his horse right into the race,” Pletcher said. “I wasn’t sure which way it was going to go. Once [Liam’s Map] was able to cut the corner and create a little bit of a margin … when they threw up the 23-and-change, 47-and-change, all was in our favor. Then he comes back with another [23.45-second quarter fraction]. He’s a phenomenal horse.”

In the Whitney, Smith hit Liam’s Map once and the horse appeared to resent it, throwing his head up and hesitating for a stride or two. Castellano, who had ridden Liam’s Map once previously in an allowance race at Belmont, never used his stick on Liam’s Map.

“I never used the whip, I never hit him, I just hand ride him and just enjoyed the trip,” said Castellano. “I think that horse can go a little farther.”

Pletcher, who had Castellano work the horse twice in between the Whitney and Woodward, said Castellano’s familiarity with Liam’s Map was crucial.

“He’s a horse that has a little bit of a light mouth, you got to finesse him a little bit,” Pletcher said. “He did get a very good job with that.”

Liam’s Map, a son of Unbridled’s Song who cost $800,000 as a yearling, covered 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.44 and returned $4.40 as the 6-5 favorite. He now has a record of 5-2-0 from seven starts and career earnings of $808,940.

Pletcher ran four in the Woodward, including Coach Inge, who finished second by 1 1/2 lengths over Wicked Strong, who got third by a neck over Effinex. Mylute (Pletcher), Bay of Plenty, Commanding Curve, and Protonico (Pletcher) completed the order of finish.

While Pletcher said all options are on the table regarding the Breeders’ Cup Classic, Vincent Viola, who owns the colt with his wife Teresa, said he thinks the Dirt Mile is the race for Liam’s Map.

“I think we’re going to go to the Mile,” he said. “It’s up to Todd completely.”

Castellano didn’t want to think about having to choose between Liam’s Map and Honor Code in the Classic.

“Not yet,” Castellano said.

Castellano added the Woodward to Grade 1 victories at this meet in the Whitney, Travers, Alabama, and Alfred G. Vanderbilt. He won three races on Saturday and moved within six, 55-49, of Irad Ortiz Jr. for leading rider.