Liam's Map to Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile

Teresa Viola Racing Stables' grade I winner Liam's Map will contest the Las Vegas Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I) Oct. 30 at Keeneland and not the 1 1/4-mile Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I), trainer Todd Pletcher confirmed Oct. 7.

"After speaking to the Violas, we felt like it was the right race for him," Pletcher said. "He's proven that he's a brilliant miler and the two-turn aspect here, I think suits him very well... and we want to take our best shot at winning a Breeders' Cup (race)."

The 4-year-old son of Unbridled's Song comes off a victory in the Sept. 5 Woodward Stakes (gr. I) going 1 1/8 miles at Saratoga Race Course, and will dial back to a distance that actually ends up being a little over a mile due to the configuration of the Lexington track.

ANGST: Dirt Mile to be Contested at a Mile (Well a Bit Longer)

Pletcher said the extended ground of the Dirt Mile due to the Breeders' Cup being run at Keeneland this year is a plus for Liam's Map

"I think that helps," he remarked. "It's probably closer to a mile and 70 (yards) than a mile, and that certainly won't bother him."

In the Dirt Mile Liam's Map could have met multiple grade I winner Private Zone, but on Oct. 6 his connections said they were leaning toward the Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I).

"We've got a major contender in the Sprint too," Pletcher said, mentioning Rock Fall  . "Thinking about all the Breeders' Cup races, you don't anticipate any of them are going to be easy. We honestly had made our minds up before we heard about Private Zone, but it doesn't hurt our feelings (that he isn't going to the Dirt Mile)."