Kentucky Derby 2020 Radar: Liam's Point good but green

An odds-on favorite Saturday in Gulfstream Park’s third race, Liam’s Point looked ready to fly past his competition when putting away the pace setters through an opening half mile in 45.40 seconds.

What happened next will be a source of debate looking down the line to a potential 2020 Kentucky Derby trail start — or perhaps something, given it’s getting late this winter, leading to another of the Triple Crown series races.

A son of Liam’s Map trained by Todd Pletcher, Liam’s Point hit the top of the stretch all alone. Rather than run on in the seven-furlong debut, he appeared to idle and make jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. work for the win.

The two-length lead cut in half as a more experienced Mud Pie chased  down the center of the track. While Liam’s Point held on, he was plenty green, and he also looked to be on the wrong lead as a strap from his girth flutter between his legs.

To add, seven furlongs isn't an easy distance to debut at and win.

Perhaps the Brerton Jones homebred, who’s campaigned in partnership with St. Elias Stable, will improve next time. For now, he’s one of 10 Pletcher-trained maiden winners since Jan. 1 looking to separate themselves in this division.

Liam’s Point is out of Kittery Point, an Include mare who produced Grade 1 winner Sam’s Sister. The buzz around him intensified after onlookers saw him work on even terms last weekend with Spice is Nice, a $1 million filly who romped on debut and figures to hit the Kentucky Oaks trail next.

Pletcher hasn’t struck yet in a Derby prep but will be lining up his charges for when it counts in the penultimate and final points races. Liam’s Point has the least amount of time among them, however, to get an extra race in before deeper waters — plus learning to do based on Saturday’s effort.

Also prominent for Pletcher is the recent Tampa Bay Downs allowance winner Gouverneur Morris and Palm Springs, a Feb. 1 maiden winner included in Pool 2 of the recent Kentucky Derby Future Wager.

Other recent maiden winners on dirt for the barn include $975,000 purchase Money Moves, Texas Swing, Candy Tycoon and Market Analysis, with next steps taken by Pletcher key to his Derby hopes this spring.

Pletcher, who holds the all-time record with 54 horses entered in the Derby, has won it twice, with Super Saver in 2010 and Always Dreaming in 2017.