Colonel Liam Targets Fort Lauderdale Stakes

Robert and Lawana Low's Colonel Liam  will target the $200,000 Fort Lauderdale Stakes (G2T) Dec. 31 at Gulfstream Park as the lone prep for his attempt at a third consecutive victory in the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1T).

Colonel Liam was entered in an optional claiming allowance race scheduled for 7 1/2 furlongs on Gulfstream's new turf course Dec. 15 but was the first of three also-eligibles in an overflow field of 15. The race was later shifted to the all-weather Tapeta course due to rain.

Trainer Todd Pletcher said the 1 1/8-mile Fort Lauderdale was always the backup plan for the 5-year-old son of Liam's Map  , unraced since finishing ninth in the Dubai Turf sponsored by DP World (G1) March 26.

"As it worked out, we probably wouldn't have run either horse on the synthetic, anyway. We drew the AE and then they took it off, so we'll go to Plan B."

Colonel Liam defended his 2021 Pegasus Turf victory Jan. 29 at Gulfstream with a popular one-length triumph—his first race in 239 days after finishing eighth in the Manhattan (G1) last June at Belmont Park. The Fort Lauderdale comes 281 days after the Dubai Turf.

"It's fine," Pletcher said. "Ideally, we wanted a little bit more time between races back to the Pegasus, but it is what it is. He runs well off the layoff so, hopefully, he runs well there and moves forward for the big one."