Colonel Liam Much the Best in Muniz Memorial Classic
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Photo: Hodges Photography / Lou Hodges, Jr.
Colonel Liam wins the Muniz Memorial Classic at Fair Grounds Race Course
Robert and Lawana Low's Colonel Liam returned much the best March 20 in the $300,000 Muniz Memorial Handicap (G2T) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, acing his first start since a victory in the Jan. 23 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes (G1T).
Extending his win streak to three after winning the Dec. 26 Tropical Park Derby at Gulfstream Park before his Pegasus score, the 4-year-old Liam's Map colt rallied with a three-wide bid and moved clear late under Irad Ortiz Jr. to win by 1 1/2 lengths over 24-1 shot Two Emmys.
That rival went to the front to post opening fractions of :23.79 and :49.08 while Ortiz reserved Colonel Liam in the two path first in fifth, then fourth with three lengths to make up on the leader. The striking gray was set down for the drive through three-quarters in 1:14.51, and battled with Two Emmys through a 1:36.86 mile before moving clear under steady urging.
The final time for the 1 1/8-mile test was 1:48.33 on a course rated good.
The 124-pound highweight in a field of 10, Colonel Liam was sent off favored and returned $3.40 on a $2 win ticket.
Two Emmys outran his odds to finish second, 3 1/2 lengths clear of the rest. Logical Myth eked out third by a neck, and was followed home by Pixelate, Ninety One Assault, Captivating Moon, Peace Achieved, Conviction Trade, Spooky Channel, and Olympic Runner. Cross Border and Factor This were scratched.
"We were surprised," Robert Low told TVG of Colonel Liam's rise to multiple graded stakes winner this season. "We know he's a nice horse, and he's done some good work… We were just kind of sitting on the edge of our chairs; he showed up at Gulfstream and the rest is history."
Colonel Liam, bred in Kentucky by Phillips Racing Partnership, improved his record to five wins and a third from seven starts, and advanced his earnings to $870,965. A $1.2 million purchase by his connections from Wavertree Stables' consignment to the Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale in 2019, he is the first stakes winner from six foals out of the unraced Bernardini mare Amazement and one of her two winners overall. She also has a placed 3-year-old filly named Lovely Dee (Shackleford), a 2-year-old Tapiture colt, a yearling colt by Arrogate, and was reported bred to Copper Bullet for 2021. Colonel Liam's second dam, Wonder Again (Silver Hawk), won the 2004 Diana Handicap (G1T) at Saratoga Race Course.
Summer in Saratoga Steps Up
Highlander Training Center's Summer in Saratoga came ready to rumble Saturday, weaving through traffic to find running room late en route to a neck victory over Dominga in the $150,000 Tom Benson Memorial Stakes. With Ortiz in the irons, the 5-year-old Hard Spun mare picked up black type for the first time, firing fresh off the bench for trainer Joe Sharp in her first start since a Sept. 10 allowance/optional claiming score at Kentucky Downs.
Longshot His Glory took the lead in the 1 1/16-mile test for older fillies and mares, putting up fractions of :23.71, :47.68, and 1:12.08 before fading. Joy Epifora briefly bid for the lead but was outrun through a 1:36.19 mile. Four wide at the quarter pole, Summer in Saratoga was blocked in at the three-sixteenths and had to wait for running room, then altered course to the outside and put in a strong rally to land the victory.
The final time was 1:42.15.
Dominga held for second by three-quarters of a length after tracking the pace throughout. The order of finish was completed by Winning Envelope, Joy Epifora, Pass the Plate, Winter Sunset, Temple City Terror, Russian Mafia, Dalika, His Glory, Logic N Reason, and Catch a Bid. Dreamalildreamofu was scratched.
Bred in Kentucky by My Meadowview out of the Arch mare Love Theway Youare, the mare was a $165,000 purchase by Larry Hirsch from Denali Stud's consignment to the Fasig-Tipton Summer Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale in 2019. She improved her record to 4-1-2 from 11 starts, with earnings of $270,092. Her dam has a yearling Candy Ride filly and was bred to Omaha Beach for 2021.
Video: Muniz Memorial Classic S. (G2T)