Partial interest in Liam Smith available at Keeneland Championship Sale
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A 25 percent interest in Liam Smith, the sharp winner of two sprints in California since late August, will be available at Wednesday’s Keeneland Championship Sale in Kentucky, days before the 3-year-old colt’s potential start in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Keeneland.
The ownership of Liam Smith has changed in recent months. Liam Smith was claimed for $50,000 by owner and trainer Peter Miller in a two-way shake at Del Mar on Aug. 27. Liam Smith won the race for 3-year-olds by 12 lengths, finishing 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:14.35. He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 107.
Racing for Miller’s Altamira Stable, Liam Smith won an allowance race at 6 1/2 furlongs by 5 1/2 lengths at Santa Anita on Sept. 26, earning another Beyer figure of 107.
Since that win, Miller has sold shares of Liam Smith to Les Blake and Jim Hart, according to pre-entry documents published by Breeders’ Cup earlier this week. Blake, through trainer Jeff Mullins, claimed Liam Smith for $50,000 at Santa Anita in January. The colt raced three times for them before Miller’s claim in August.
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Blake owns horses trained by Miller.
Under California Horse Racing Board rules, a horse cannot be sold or transferred for racing within 30 days of a claim. The partial sale of Smith to Blake and Hart was completed earlier this month, after the Sept. 26 win.
Liam Smith, who is by Midshipman, is listed in sale documents as a racing and stallion prospect.
As of Friday, Liam Smith was not assured a start in the BC Sprint. He was listed as fourth on an also-eligible list, but four horses ranked ahead of him had first preference to start in other races, including the Miller-trained Moonlight for the BC Dirt Mile.
Entries for the BC Sprint will be taken on Monday.
Miller said a backup race for Liam Smith is the $300,000 Bet On Sunshine Stakes at six furlongs at Churchill Downs on Nov. 7.
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