BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Quoting track announcer Frank Mirahmadi, “Liam’s Law was strong from the moment the gates opened and took them all the way in the With Anticipation.”
The Florida-bred son of Ocala Stud’s Colonel Liam gave his sire his first winner on July 12 at Saratoga Race Course and is now the stallion’s first stakes winner with a gate-to-wire victory in the Grade 3 With Anticipation over the same inner turf Saturday. Three 2-year-olds went a mile-and-a-sixteenth with Liam’s Law taking down the $123,750 winner’s share of the $195,750 purse.
Trained by Todd Pletcher for Robert E. and Lawana L. Low of Springfied, Missouri, Liam’s Law also produced a $5,000 Export Incentive for breeder Ocala Stud with the the victory outside Florida at this level. Capped at $1 million in 2026, the Export Incentive program is administered by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.
In field reduced by two scratches, Liam’s Law and jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. started best from post one and promptly put a length-and-a-half lead on Perfect Dream in second with 1-2 favorite Bold Leadership third into the clubhouse turn. Liam’s Law clicked off comfortable quarter-mile splits of :24.49 and :49.11 before Perfect Dream tried to challenge around the second turn. Liam’s Law repelled Perfect Dream then turned away a late run from Bold Leadership in the stretch, winning by a neck in 1:42.59 on the firm turf. Bold Leadership was four-and-quarter lengths ahead of Perfect Dream in third. High Official and Howard’s Hope were scratched.
Liam’s Law paid $4.82 to win and increased his earnings to $192,100 in three starts.
The Lows, who also campaigned three-time Grade 1-winner Colonel Liam, purchased Liam’s Law for $120,000 out of the Ocala Stud consignment at his year’s Ocala Breeders’ Sales March Sale.
Fourth on debut over a sloppy and sealed track in a five-and-a-half furlong maiden special weight taken off the turf during the Belmont at Big A meet at Aqueduct on May 24, Liam’s Law was impressive next out going a mile-and-a-sixteenth in a maiden special weight kept on the inner turf at Saratoga. He led from the start and won by a length-and-a-quarter at the 2-1 favorite.
Liam’s Law is out of winner Quickasakitten, by Kitten’s Joy, a producer of three starters, all winners, from six foals. She also has an unnamed yearling filly by Ocala Stud’s Win Win Win and a weanling filly by Adios Charlie, who also stands at Ocala’s oldest stallion station. She was bred to Ocala Stud’s hot freshman sire Roadster this year. Both the yearling and weanling were bred in Florida by Ocala Stud.
Notes: Liam’s Law joins Boppy O in 2022 as a Florida-bred winner of the With Anticipation Stakes. Liam’s Law is the 50th Florida-bred winner of an open stakes and the 14th Florida-bred winner of a graded stakes in 2026.
Return to the September 5 issue of Wire to Wire
