Colonel Liam a Commanding Presence in Fort Lauderdale

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Colonel Liam a Commanding Presence in Fort Lauderdale
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Photo: Casey Laughter
Colonel Liam trains May 5 at Churchill Downs

Prepping for a third consecutive appearance in the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes (G1T) Jan. 28—a race he won the past two years—Colonel Liam  returns to action after a nine-month layoff in the $200,000 Fort Lauderdale Stakes (G2T) at Gulfstream Park Dec. 31.

Away since finishing ninth in the Dubai Turf Sponsored By DP World (G1) at Meydan March 26, the 5-year-old gray horse must overcome a wide draw in addition to any rustiness. He landed post 12 in a 1 1/8-mile turf matchup against sharp rivals City Man  and King Cause . 

Still, his luck at the draw was better than that of Decorated Invader , an also-eligible who needs a scratch to run into the overflow race.

Colonel Liam, 7-for-11 overall with earnings of $1.8 million, has raced five times at Gulfstream with four wins and a third for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher.

"That's obviously a big factor to it," Jacob West, racing manager for owners Robert and Lawana Low, said about Colonel Liam's winter return in South Florida. "There was no rush to bring him back because we knew ultimately getting him back down to Gulfstream was going to be what he wanted. It's all kind of coming into play now." 

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Pletcher had tried to prep him in an allowance optional claimer Dec. 15, but the horse didn't compete after being an also-eligible and after the race was moved to Gulfstream's synthetic Tapeta surface following rainy weather.

Pletcher has previously won the Fort Lauderdale with Largent  (2020), Mshawish  (2015), and Silver Medallion  (2012). 

"He's doing great. He's been training well," Pletcher said. "We wanted to get a prep race into him before the Pegasus Turf, and it didn't work out with the allowance race, so we ended up in the Fort Lauderdale. He drew a pretty wide post, but hopefully he can work out a trip from there. 

"He's always run some nice races at Gulfstream," he added. "He's been sharp in his breezes and feeling good. He's run well off the layoff before; hopefully he's able to do that again. We'd love to have him run well and move forward for the next one." 

Irad Ortiz Jr. rides the 8-5 morning-line favorite, who carries 123 lbs.

Colonel Liam must deal with a number of high-class New York invaders who have traveled to Florida for winter turf racing. Among these are City Man and King Cause, both graded winners in 2022. City Man won the Forbidden Apple Stakes (G3T) this summer at Saratoga Race Course and has maintained sharp form in New York-bred company since, and King Cause won the Knickerbocker Stakes (G3T) last out on Oct. 9 during the Belmont at the Big A meet. They both shoulder co-highweight of 126 lbs.

Christophe Clement trains City Man, as he does Decorated Invader.

Mike Maker trains King Cause and also Shadow Sphinx , runner-up in the Artie Schiller Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack Nov. 13.

Bay Storm Thunders into Suwannee River

Two races before the ninth-race Fort Lauderdale, female grass horses compete in the $125,000 Suwannee River Stakes (G3T) at a mile.

Testing her stamina is Bridlewood Farm's stretch-out sprinter Bay Storm , who came within a nose of defeating group 1 winner Campanelle  in the six-furlong Mint Ladies Sprint Stakes (G3T) at Kentucky Downs Sept. 10. The Suwannee River will mark her first two-turn start and at the distance for trainer Jonathan Thomas.

Scotish Star , Stolen Holiday , and Lady Rockstar  lead the opposition.


Entries: Ft. Lauderdale S. (G2T)

Gulfstream Park, Saturday, December 31, 2022, Race 9

  • Grade IIT
  • 1 1/8m
  • Turf
  • $200,000
  • 3 yo's & up
  • 4:10 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 Street Ready (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Luis Saez 121 Ian R. Wilkes -
2 Marwad (GB) Sonny Leon 118 Mohamed Moubarak -
3 Pao Alto (FR) Jorge Ruiz 123 H. Graham Motion -
4 Shadow Sphinx (KY) Paco Lopez 121 Michael J. Maker -
5 Tango Tango Tango (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Julien R. Leparoux 121 Jack Sisterson -
6 Kentucky Ghost (KY) Martin Garcia 121 Victoria H. Oliver -
7 City Man (NY) Joel Rosario 126 Christophe Clement -
8 Winfromwithin (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Chantal Sutherland 123 Jorge Delgado -
9 Carpenters Call (KY) Junior Alvarado 121 William I. Mott -
10 King Cause (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Jose L. Ortiz 126 Michael J. Maker -
11 Good Governance (GB) Shaun Bridgmohan 121 Anna M. Meah -
12 Colonel Liam (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Irad Ortiz, Jr. 123 Todd A. Pletcher -
13 Decorated Invader (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Tyler Gaffalione 121 Christophe Clement -


Entries: Suwannee River S. (G3T)

Gulfstream Park, Saturday, December 31, 2022, Race 7

  • Grade IIIT
  • 1m
  • Turf
  • $125,000
  • 3 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
  • 3:09 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 Scotish Star (ARG) Luis Saez 121 Todd A. Pletcher -
2 Diamond Wow (KY) Joel Rosario 118 Patrick L. Biancone -
3 Bay Storm (KY) Jose L. Ortiz 123 Jonathan Thomas -
4 Keeper of Time (IRE) Tyler Gaffalione 121 Brendan P. Walsh -
5 Kahiko (KY) Miguel Angel Vasquez 121 J. Kent Sweezey -
6 Secret Time (GER)Keeneland Sales Graduate Javier Castellano 121 Danny Gargan -
7 Stolen Holiday (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Junior Alvarado 125 Claude R. McGaughey III -
8 Phantom Vision (KY) Paco Lopez 121 Michael J. Maker -
9 Touch of Class (KY) Julien R. Leparoux 121 Bernard S. Flint -
10 Lady Rockstar (GB) Irad Ortiz, Jr. 121 Brendan P. Walsh -