Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational S. presented by Baccarat

Robert and Lawana Low's Colonel Liam returned from a nearly eight-month layoff Jan. 29 to capture the $1 Million Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes presented by Baccarat for the second consecutive year at Gulfstream Park.

The 5-year-old son of Liam's Map hadn't raced since finishing eighth June 5 in the 1 1/4-mile Grade 1 Resorts World Casino Manhattan Stakes at Belmont Park. He then rested until returning to work in early December.

"He didn't lose a step, he came back like he was," jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. said. "He's healthy. He felt very strong. He ran like he never left."

Colonel Liam was hand-timed covering the 1 1/8-mile race on firm turf in 1:47.48 after times initially posted by Gulfstream Park were inaccurate. No hand-timed fractions were posted on the Equibase chart. Numerous turf races at Gulfstream Park this winter have needed to be hand-timed as a corrective measure.

Stablemate Never Surprised, owned by Repole Stable, finished second after setting the early pace.

"I felt like Never Surprised would definitely be the pacesetter," trainer Todd Pletcher said. "When he drew post 12, it kind of forced (jockey) Luis (Saez) to commit to that.

"We kind of felt like Colonel Liam could get a good stalking position. He ended up being a little closer than I thought he would be but I think he was right where Irad wanted him to be."

Never Surprised broke and was hustled to the front by Saez. The leader then was pressed by Grade 2 Fort Lauderdale Stakes winner Doswell, owned by Joseph Allen, through six furlongs.

The 8-5 favorite, Colonel Liam tracked the pace in fourth and then third.

Colonel Liam advanced three deep around the far turn and then took the lead nearing the eighth pole. The gray horse drew clear under Ortiz's steady left-handed urging.

Saez lost his whip in the upper stretch, but Never Surprised, a 4-year-old son of Constitution, fought hard inside the leader and held on for second, one length behind Colonel Liam.

Clipper Logistics' Space Traveller, ridden by Jamie Spencer, was half-length back in third and a neck ahead of Jordan Wycoff's Atone, under Javier Castellano.

Three Diamonds Farm's Cross Border and rider Reylu Gutierrez finished fifth.