Unbeaten Beau Liam likely to take another step through his conditions

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Perhaps if he didn’t have Jackie’s Warrior in his barn, trainer Steve Asmussen would have been tempted to run Beau Liam in Saturday’s Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens. As brilliant as Beau Liam has been winning his first two career starts, bettors would most certainly have had to consider him.

But Asmussen took the more conservative route and is running Beau Liam in a second-level allowance going 6 1/2 furlongs Sunday at Saratoga.

“You look at the Allen Jerkens and who’s in it and realize that more foundation for Beau Liam is necessary,” Asmussen said Friday.

In addition to Jackie’s Warrior, a Grade 1 winner and three-time stakes winner over Saratoga’s main track, Saturday’s Jerkens also had Life Is Good, considered among the top 3-year-olds in the country in the winter before being sidelined with ankle chip.

Beau Liam, a son of Liam’s Map owned and bred by Stonestreet Stables, won his debut by 7 1/2 lengths on May 29 at Churchill Downs, running six furlongs in 1:08.62. He stepped up and faced winners for the first time in a seven-furlong first-level allowance here July 17 and beat Witsel by a nose with those two finishing six lengths clear of the field.

Beau Liam and Witsel both earned a 106 Beyer Speed Figure for the race. Witsel, unfortunately, has been sidelined for the remainder of the year with an injury.

“I don’t think any horse could have started off their career with two races that could have been any more impressive than his two,” Asmsusen said. “Running [1:08.62] in his debut and a 106 Beyer in his ‘other-than’ what couldn’t he do?”

Sunday’s allowance drew a field of eight. Night Time, trained by Dale Romans, just got beat on the wire by Aloha West in this condition going six furlongs Aug. 1. He finished 4 1/2 lengths clear of Cost Basis, who also is back in this field.

Yodel E. A. Who, a nine-time winner, is one of three in this field being offered for the optional $80,000 claiming price. Two starts back, Yodel E. A. Who won a $40,000 claiming race and was taken by Karl Broberg. He finished fifth in the same race that Night Time was second.