Liam's Map

The air is getting thinner now, as we explore those stallions standing between $30,000 and $59,999, but this penultimate instalment of our series does open access to genuine elite quality. Several in this range have a proven ability to sire horses who go on, in turn, to take a lucrative place at stud; and a number, within that group, have reached a stage in their careers where their fees have been cut temptingly within reach. Take MACLEAN'S MUSIC. Doubling his fee to $50,000 for 2022--after two sons contested the finish...

Despite a few downgrades due to weather and a cancellation here and there, the U.S. and Canada still combined to run 446 graded races in 2025. What stands out after another full year of North American graded racing is in the books? All 98 scheduled Grade I races were run, with just three horses scoring a trio of successes at the elite level: Journalism, Sovereignty, and Ted Noffey. Another nine horses doubled up with two Grade I wins on the year. In addition to the 98 Grade I events, there...

Waymark (Liam's Map) made his debut a winning one as he ran to his 3-2 odds here. At the bell as a blitz for the top spot ensued, the colt watched from the outside up the backstretch. The 2-year-old flexed his muscles with a four-wide move around the far turn and picked up fellow 'Insight' runner High Camp (Instagrand). Blazing down the lane, Waymark aimed for the wire and scored, but High Camp put in a game effort with some late speed of his own. Autobahn (Nyquist), another 'Insight' horse,...

2nd-SA, $70K, Msw, 2yo, 6 1/2f, 2:31 p.m. ET. NEWTON (Munnings) went through the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling sale ring and brought $975,000. Sent to Bob Baffert, the colt is out of $1.2-million buy Secret Jewel (Bernardini), whose other progeny include GSW Twenty Carat (Into Mischief) and SW Point Proven (Gun Runner). Secret Jewel's half-sisters include Canadian GSW Colonial Flag (Pleasant Tap), MGSW Sparkle Blue (Hard Spun) and last but not least GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf victress Shared Account (Pleasantly Perfect)--herself the dam of GI Breeders' Cup...

   In this continuing series, TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack catches up with the connections of promising maidens to keep on your radar. What an effort from Boss Dylan (c, 2, Liam's Map--Sweet, by Blame)! Those were the words of track announcer Travis Stone as Boss Dylan rallied from last to finish a fantastic second in the nightcap at Churchill Downs Sunday evening. Off at odds of 9-1 in his 6 1/2-furlong unveiling for trainer Brendan Walsh in a very deep maiden special weight, Boss Dylan made a mess...

7th-Churchill Downs, $122,888, Msw, 10-26, 2yo, 6f, 1:10.22, ft, 5 1/2 lengths. STRADALE (c, 2, Yaupon--Twitterpated, by Stormy Atlantic) hit the board twice during his time at Saratoga, running third and second July 19 and Aug. 30, respectively, against maiden company. He bobbled and was knocked around at the start of the GI Champagne Stakes Oct. 4 and ran a flat fifth by 12 lengths as Napoleon Solo (Liam's Map) won by 6 1/2 lengths. Sent off here as the 9-5 favorite, Stradale bumped with an outside rival after tossing...

Gold Square's Napoleon Solo (c, 2, Liam's Map--Atomic Blonde, by Scat Daddy), a very sharp debut winner of an auction-restricted maiden special weight sprinting at Saratoga Aug. 8, put on a dominating display in Saturday's 'Win and You're In' GI Champagne S. going a one-turn mile at the Belmont at the Big A meeting. Sent to the front by Joel Rosario over a surface playing very kindly to speed, the 6-1 chance cleared from his outside draw and led through fractions of :22.53 and :44.24 with imposing 2-5 favorite It's...

An Ashview Stud-consigned colt by Liam's Map (hip 3681) became the last of 29 horses to breach the $100,000 threshold during the second of two sessions in Book 5A of the Keeneland September Sale in Lexington Thursday afternoon, selling to bloodstock agent Chad Schumer, agent, for $480,000. And when the dust had settled on the 10th session of the auction, gross receipts had nudged past $500 million, extending the record for the sale. "Surpassing $500 million at the September Sale marks a pivotal moment for our sport--a milestone the entire...

Demand for progeny by Horse of the Year Flightline stayed strong throughout Monday's session of Keeneland September as a filly (hip 168) sold for $1,500,000 to Japan's Naohiro Sakaguchi. The filly is a daughter of 'TDN Rising Star' Taylor S (Medaglia d'Oro) who is herself a half-sister to both fellow 'Rising Star' Liam's Map (Unbridled's Song) and current hot sire Not This Time (Giant's Causeway). Bred by Albaugh Family Stables, she was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency. Sakaguchi also struck earlier in the session for another Flightline, purchasing a...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Moments into the post-race interview Thursday, Steven Duncker took a small step back, bowed his head slightly and wiped away a tear. For sure, Duncker was pleased to be back in the winner's circle at Saratoga Race Course but the maiden victory by Teddy's Rocket (Liam's Map) brought more than typical winning-a-race joy to the veteran owner and his partners, St. Elias Stable, Susan Karches and Vicarage Stable. There were more elements at play than just a score in the second race in the program, a...

Once she got to the lead in the lane, they couldn't reel her back in, and Destino d'Oro (Bolt d'Oro) sailed home much the best in the GIII Pucker Up Stakes at Ellis Park. The Brad Cox runner started her career as a juvenile at Kentucky Downs in late August last season, and went back to front in a maiden special to win by 2 1/4 lengths. Deep in the field behind her were two next-out winners and GSW Will Then (War of Will). She tried a similar tactic Oct....

11th-Churchill Downs, $122,025, Msw, 6-27, 3yo/up, 6 1/2f, 1:16.02, ft, 1 1/2 lengths. TAYLOR'S VERSION (c, 3, Into Mischief--Taylor S {SW & GSP, $121,519}, by Medaglia d'Oro) endured a wide trip from a high draw on his belated racetrack debut May 18 and retreated through the stretch to finish about a dozen lengths behind repeat winner Camp Hale (Mo Town) in eighth. Off right at his 8-1 morning line for this second go, the Albaugh homebred scratched down into the one hole and left there running, covering the opening quarter...