BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Liam’s Law, a winner of a maiden special weight on the Saratoga Race Course inner turf in July, remains on the same grass course at the Spa Saturday to face stakes company for the first time in the Grade 3 With Anticipation Stakes. The Florida-bred son of Ocala Stud’s freshman sire Colonel Liam is among five 2-year-olds who will contest a mile-and-a-sixteenth.
In addition to vying for the winner’s share of the $225,000 purse, an out-of-state victory at this level by Liam’s Law would earn Ocala Stud as breeder a $5,000 Export Incentive bonus from the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.
Trained by Todd Pletcher for Robert E. and Lawana L. Low of Springfield, Missouri, Liam’s Law was the first winner for his sire, a three-time Grade 1 winner who was also campaigned by the Lows.’
Liam’s Law was unsuccessful in his first career start, finishing fourth in a five-and-a-half-furlong maiden special weight in the slop at Aqueduct during the Belmont at Big A meet on May 24. Pletcher adjusted by putting him on the grass to race a mile-and-a-sixteenth for his second try on July 12 and the bay colt responded impressively, winning a maiden special weight by length-and-a-quarter after leading from flag to finish.
Liam’s Law is out of Quickasakitten, by Kitten’s Joy and has earned $68,350 in his two races. The Low’s bought him for $120,000 out of the Ocala Stud consignment at this year’s March auction at Ocala Breeders’ Sales.
Pletcher will give a leg up on Liam’s Law to Ricardo Santana Jr. and they have drawn post two. Liam’s Law is 5-2 on the morning line.
Liam’s Law faces two stablemates in the With Anticipation in High Official and Bold Leadership.
High Official won his only start, a mile-and-a-sixteenth maiden special weight on the inner turf at Saratoga on July 26, coming from fifth of eight to win by two lengths.
Also owned by the Low’s, High Official is by Not This Time out of the American Pharoah mare Sweet Melania and will be ridden from post three by Flavien Prat. They are favored in the program at 7-5.
Bold Leadership is the second choice on the morning line at 8-5 after just missing in his only start, finish a second, a nose behind winner Oscar in a mile-and-a-sixteenth maiden special weight on the Mellon Turf Course at Saratoga on August. 8.
Also by Not This Time, Bold Leadership is out of Sweetened, by Candy Ride (Arg) and is owned in partnership by Mike Repole’s Repole Stable and Vincent and Teresa Viola’s St Elias Stables.
Bold Leadership has Manny Franco taking the riding assignment and they start from post four.
Rounding the field are Howard’s Hope with Jose Lezcano riding and jockey Chantal Sutherland has the call on Perfect Dream.
Return to the September 4 issue of Wire to Wire
