Two-Time Pegasus Turf Winner Colonel Liam Retired

Lawana and Robert Low's Colonel Liam's bid for a third straight win in the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes (G1T) was derailed Jan. 19 when trainer Todd Pletcher said the 6-year-old son of Liam's Map   has been retired. Colonel Liam will enter stud at Ocala Stud.

The 6-year-old earner of more than $1.8 million was trying to add another Pegasus Turf win to a career record of seven wins from 12 starts that features three grade 1 wins, highlighted by back-to-back wins in the 2022 and 2021 editions of the $1 million grass stakes Jan. 28 at Gulfstream Park. He was among the 12 invitees to this year's race after finishing sixth in the Dec. 31 Ft. Lauderdale Stakes (G2T) at Gulfstream Park in his first start since finishing ninth overseas in the March 26 Dubai Turf (G1).

"He's been a star his entire career and should make a terrific stallion," Pletcher said.

Jacob West, racing manager for the Lows, said Colonel Liam will stand this season for an introductory fee of $6,500 and that the stallion deal with Ocala Stud came together in about 24 hours.

"Standing him in Florida makes him a bigger fish in a smaller pond this late in the year," West said. "Not many three-time grade 1 winners enter stud in a regional market, but Ocala Stud is excited to get him and the farm's track record of proven success is unmatched."

West said the Lows will be sending mares to Colonel Liam and will be keen to support his progeny when they begin showing up at auction.

After the lackluster performance in the Ft. Lauderdale, West said he and Pletcher thought that retiring the colt might be the right path.

"He has given us so much and if he was not going to have a top campaign, then (racing) made no sense. The Lows always do what's best for the horse," West said.

David O'Farrell with Ocala Stud said he is thrilled to have such a good-looking, top-class racehorse, who he sees with a lot of potential as a stallion. Colonel Liam already has arrived at the farm.

"He was an elite turf horse but his pedigree suggests he could get dirt runners, too; he could throw anything," O'Farrell said. "In the market today, I think it is beneficial to be versatile, and this horse has that potential."

Liam's Map, a son of Unbridled's Song, won the 2015 Woodward Stakes (G1) and Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1). Colonel Liam's dam, Amazement, is a daughter of 2022 leading North American broodmare sire Bernardini, who won the 2006 Preakness Stakes (G1), Travers Stakes (G1), and Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1).

Colonel Liam's defection will allow one of the horses on the reserve list of Pegasus Turf candidates to join the field for the 1 1/8-mile turf stakes.

The post-position draw for the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) at 1 1/8 miles, the Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf Invitational (G3T) at 1 1/16 miles, and the Pegasus Turf will be Jan. 22.

A winner of his career debut at 3 on dirt via disqualification, Colonel Liam also posted stakes wins in the Turf Classic (G1T) at Churchill Downs (in a dead-heat with Domestic Spending ) and Muniz Memorial Classic Stakes (G2T) in 2021 and the 2020 Tropical Park Derby.