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| Rowan Anderson |
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Two Time Pegasus Turf Winner Colonel Liam has been retired after developing an ankle injury.
The Liam’s Map x Amazement progeny finished his career with seven wins and a place from 12 starts and earnings of $1,812,565.
A remarkable achievement after selling for $50,000 as a yearling and being bought by Lawana and Robert Low as a 2-year-old for $1.2 million.
“Colonel Liam took our whole family on quite a ride over a four-year period,” Robert Low told media.
The Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational is worth USD $1 million and is by invitation for four-year-olds and older over a distance of one and one-eighth miles on the turf track.
The inaugural running of the event was in 1986 and only two horses have won it more than once Einstein (2006, 2008) and Colonel Liam (2021, 2022).
Along with these two wins in the Pegasus Turf he also had major wins in the 2021 Muniz Memorial Classic (G2) and Turf Classic (G1).
Last year he was brought to the United Arab Emirates for his one and only local run in the US $5 million Group One Dubai Turf Sponsored where he would finish ninth.
He was set to challenge for a third consecutive win in the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational next week, in which he would have been among top hopes.
The horse's final start came in the G2 Fort Lauderdale Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Dec. 31, where he finished sixth far off the pace.
Jacob West, racing manager for the Lows, said that a conversation with trainer Pletcher following that race motivated the decision to retire the horse to stud.
“He has given us so much and if he was not going to have a top campaign, then (racing) made no sense.
“The Lows always do what's best for the horse.”
He has been retired to Ocala Stud where he will begin his career as a stallion in the 2023 breeding season.
Owner Robert Low commented on why Ocala was chosen as the next chapter for the much-loved star.
“Ocala Stud has a proven track record of developing young stallions into some of the most formidable stallions in the business and we are excited to be sending Colonel Liam to them. We love the family aspect of Ocala Stud. Their integrity and horsemanship set them apart.”
Trainer Todd Pletcher confirmed the news yesterday.
"The timing was such that now was the right time to retire him.”