Juvenile My Prankster Gutsy Winner of Co-Feature
Saturday’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Guaranteed at $400,000
Six-Race Sequence Features $100,000 Mr. Prospector (G3)
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Robert and Lawana Low’s millionaire Colonel Liam, unraced since June 5, continues to progress toward an anticipated title defense in the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) Jan. 29 at Gulfstream Park.
Colonel Liam breezed three furlongs Friday over the main track at Palm Beach Downs in 37.67 seconds, his second work since arriving in South Florida after going the same distance in 38.26 Dec. 2. His last previous move was July 24 at Saratoga.
“I’m really happy with him so far. Everything’s going right on schedule. He looks terrific. He’s moving well and we couldn’t be more pleased,” Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said. “He had a good break and he’s come back really well. He’s mature now and looks fantastic.”
Shortened from 1 3/16 miles to 1 1/8 miles for 2022, the Pegasus Turf was the second of four consecutive victories for Colonel Liam and first of three straight graded-stakes wins, capped by the May 1 Turf Classic (G1). He has not raced since finishing eighth in the 1 ¼-mile Manhattan (G1) at Belmont Park.
“He needed some time after that race,” Pletcher said. “He was kind of jarred-up after that, so we decided to freshen him with this in mind. Everything’s going to schedule.”
Colonel Liam is a son of Liam’s Map, a winner of more than $1.3 million in purses over two seasons also trained by Pletcher. Among his victories, Liam’s Map won the 2014 Harlan’s Holiday at Gulfstream and the 2015 Woodward (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1).
“It’s always cool to have offspring of horses you trained,” Pletcher said. “[Colonel Liam] is a horse that we thought could be a horse that we might put on the dirt at some point. He’s trained well on it. He’s obviously found a home on turf. He’s a multiple Grade 1 winner. Maybe we’ll step out and try the dirt some time.”
Pletcher said Life Is Good will likely work next week at Palm Beach Downs, either Tuesday or Wednesday. Dominant winner of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) Nov. 6, he is being pointed to a possible showdown with Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner Knicks Go in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1).
“He’s a very impressive horse to watch train. He’s a very willing horse, and because of that, we should have him ready to go,” Pletcher said. “I was impressed [with the Dirt Mile] but not surprised. He’s a horse, when you watch him race train and breeze, he does things that very few horses will do.”
Pletcher captured Friday’s co-featured third race at Gulfstream with the Lows’ My Prankster ($2.20), a 2-year-old son of Into Mischief who pressed Little Vic before edging past the stubborn pacesetter late and win the optional claiming allowance by a half-length as the 1-9 favorite in 1:09.02 for six furlongs. June 5 Woody Stephens (G1) winner Drain the Clock ran the same distance two hours later in 1:08.63.
My Prankster, a $600,000 yearling purchase last September, broke his maiden by 10 lengths in debut Aug. 21 at Saratoga and finished fourth in the Oct. 2 Champagne (G1) in his second start. He ran second by less than a length in the Bowman Mill Oct. 30 at Keeneland last time out.
“I was really happy with My Prankster. It was a tough race and he ran very well,” Pletcher said. “I thought for 2-year-olds to run in 1:09.02 when a Grade 1 winner later on the card went in 1:08.63 was pretty impressive to run that fast. We were kind of hoping to land in a cozy spot and ended up running into a really nice horse. We’re pleased that he kept coming and got the job done.”
Saturday’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Guaranteed at $400,000
The 20-cent Rainbow 6 gross jackpot pool will be guaranteed at $400,000 for Saturday’s 11-race card at Gulfstream Park that features the first graded-stakes of the 2021-2022 Championship Meet.
The popular multi-race wager went unsolved during Friday’s nine-race program. Multiple tickets with all six winners were each worth $1,169.28.
Saturday’s sequence spans Races 6-11 and is highlighted by the $100,000 Mr. Prospector (G3) for 3-year-olds and up sprinting seven furlongs in Race 10, where 2020 Iroquois (G3) winner Dennis’ Moment is the narrow 2-1 program favorite. Second choice at 5-2 is Endorsed, runner-up in the Louisville Thoroughbred Society Sept. 18 at Churchill Downs, three spots ahead of Dennis’ Moment.
The Rainbow 6 begins with a one-mile optional claiming allowance for fillies and mares 3 and up on the main track that drew a field of seven. Race 7 is a maiden special weight for 2-year-olds, also going one mile, led by More Than Ready colt Emmanuel, a $350,000 yearling making his career debut for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher.
Also on the Saturday program is a maiden special weight for 2-year-olds sprinting six furlongs in Race 4. Positive Review, a second-time starter trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., is favored at 7-5 on the morning line after being beaten a neck in his Oct. 16 unveiling at Gulfstream.
Who’s Hot: Jockey Luis Saez won two of the first three races Friday with Mount Sinai ($7.20) in Race 1 and My Prankster ($2.20) in Race 3, and completed his hat trick with No Nannette No ($6) in Race 9. Paco Lopez doubled aboard Never Satisfied ($50.60) in Race 4 and No Nay Maybe ($6.80) in Race 5. Tyler Gaffalione and trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. teamed up to win Race 7 with Drain the Clock ($2.80) and Race 8 with Katama Moonlight ($9) … Breezing Friday at Gulfstream was Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable, Peter Deutsch and Pantofel Stable’s multiple graded-stakes placed South Bend, going a half-mile in 48.78 seconds. The 4-year-old colt is nominated to the $150,000 Harlan’s Holiday (G3) Dec. 18.
Rainbow 6 Pool Guarantee: $400,000
Super Hi-5 Carryover: $3,762.20
Gulfstream Park Press Release
