Risen Star, Fountain of Youth options for Liam's Lucky Charm
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – One thing is for certain: Liam’s Lucky Charm put himself squarely on the Kentucky Derby trail by launching his 3-year-old campaign three weeks ago with an impressive 5 1/2-length victory in the seven-furlong Pasco at Tampa Bay Downs. Just where he’ll show up next, however, is a question even his trainer Ralph Nicks won’t be able to answer for at least another week.
Nicks has two options for Liam’s Lucky Charm’s next start, either the Risen Star at the Fair Grounds on Feb. 15 or the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth right here at Gulfstream Park two weeks later.
“The goal is to find the race that fits him best,” Nicks said on Friday. “I’m hearing there are going to be a lot of entries for the Risen Star, which can be a negative or a positive if they wind up with so many they split the race into two smaller fields. And I like the timing of the race.
“The Fountain of Youth is obviously over his home track, but I think the competition is going to be tougher.”
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Nicks said he plans to enter Liam’s Lucky Charm in the Risen Star, see where he draws and what the field looks like, and then make a final decision whether to head to New Orleans or stay home and await the Fountain of Youth.
Liam’s Lucky Charm, who defeated the highly regarded 3-year-old prospect Chance It in the seven-furlong Affirmed here last summer, turned in his second work since the Pasco on Thursday, a sharp five-eighths in 59.78 with jockey Edgard Zayas aboard. Liam’s Lucky Charm worked with blinkers on, an equipment change Nicks made prior to the Pasco.
“To be honest I was a bit surprised he went right to the lead in the Pasco,” said Nicks. “I knew the blinkers would help him some. It did sharpen him up for the race, and when Edgard asked him away from there he jumped on the bridle. Before, he just went through the motions. But with the blinkers, he’s on the bridle doing it now, like in his work yesterday, which was very, very nice.”
