Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational S.

When $1 million is on the line, Colonel Liam finds his way into the spotlight.

He first did so in April 2019 when he lit up the sales ring at Ocala Breeders’ Sales, bought for $1.2 million during the OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. Then he commanded attention again Jan. 23 at Gulfstream Park by winning in the $981,700 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes.

In taking the Pegasus Turf, the Todd Pletcher-trained son of Liam’s Map shed traffic on the second turn, and accelerated down the stretch to edge stablemate Largent by a neck in an exciting renewal of the 1 3/16-mile contest. He earned $549,000 for owners Robert and Lawana Low and the prestige of the race likely assures him an eventual career at stud.

Trainer Todd Pletcher had his fingerprints all over Saturday’s result, not only with a 1-2 finish but having also trained Liam’s Map, winner of the Woodward Stakes  and the Las Vegas Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile in 2015.

Although Liam’s Map achieved his success on dirt, it wasn’t until Colonel Liam shifted to turf last summer that he began to realize his potential. Following two modest efforts in dirt races, he debuted on grass at Saratoga Race Course in July and immediately won an allowance by 2 3/4 lengths—leading his connections to pursue stakes with him. He next ran a troubled fourth in the $500,000 Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes last August and returned to take the Tropical Park Derby Dec. 26 at Gulfstream.

Though he lacked any graded stakes experience heading into the Pegasus World Cup Turf, the betting public accurately pegged him as the 5-2 favorite. After sitting in midpack for the first mile under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., as 2019 juvenile champion Storm the Court set the pace with fractions of :48.69 and 1:12.85, Colonel Liam justified his backing with his late kick. Angled out into the center of the course, he outkicked the inside-rallying Largent, winner of last month’s Ft. Lauderdale Stakes (G2T) at Gulfstream.

The winner raced 1 3/16 miles on firm turf in 1:53.09, paying $7.—Byron King