Colonel Liam remains on course for Pegasus World Cup Turf

Robert and Lawana Low’s Colonel Liam continues to do well out of his comeback race in the Grade 2 Fort Lauderdale on Saturday at Gulfstream Park and remains on course for a three-peat effort in the Grade 1, $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Jan. 28.

Racing for the first time in 281 days, Colonel Liam broke from outside all but one of his 11 rivals in the Fort Lauderdale, the local prep for the Pegasus Turf, both races contested at 1 1/8 miles. Kept in the clear three wide by jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., Colonel Liam raced in striking distance into the stretch before tiring to be sixth, beaten less than four lengths.

Colonel Liam had been three-for-three on the Gulfstream turf, winning the 2020 Tropical Park Derby as a 3-year-old before beating stablemates Largent in 2021 and Never Surprised in 2022 in the Pegasus Turf.

Now 6 years old, Colonel Liam was prominent among a dozen horses on the initial invite list to the Pegasus Turf, released Wednesday.

“He seems like he’s in good shape, so we’re still planning on the Pegasus Turf assuming that he trains accordingly,” Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said.

Repole Stable’s Never Surprised is one of 11 reserve invitees to the Pegasus Turf. A three-time stakes winner including the 2021 Tropical Park Derby, the 5-year-old son of Constitution was only beaten a length in last year’s race and exits a runner-up finish in a 1 1/16-mile optional claiming allowance Dec. 17 at Tampa Bay Downs, his first race in 288 days.

Constitution won the Florida Derby (G1) in 2014 and the Donn Handicap (G1) – precursor to the Pegasus World Cup – in 2015, also for Pletcher.

“He’s doing well (and) looks good,” Pletcher said. “We’re thinking the same thing with him. If he breezes the way he should, we’re planning on giving him another try.”

Invitations to the Pegasus Turf, $3 million Pegasus World Cup (G1) and $500,000 Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf (G3) will be updated Jan. 11 and 18.

Pletcher said the Pegasus World Cup is under consideration for Sumaya U.S. Stables’ Pioneer of Medina, second by two lengths in the 1 1/16-mile Harlan’s Holiday (G3) Dec. 31.

“I think it’s on the radar,” he said. “We’ll see how he trains. I’ve got to talk to the owner, and we’ll come up with a plan.”

Pioneer of Medina ran fourth in the Risen Star (G2) and third in the Louisiana Derby (G2) last winter before finishing far back in the Kentucky Derby (G1). He has won one of four subsequent starts, setting the pace for a half-mile in the Harlan’s Holiday and digging in late to edge 2022 Fountain of Youth (G2) winner Simplification by a neck for second.

“He’s not a horse that really shows that much speed but he got a good start and put himself in a good spot, and he was traveling well. I thought it was a good effort from him,” Pletcher said. “It looked like he fought on hard to the wire and was able to get (up) for second.”