Beau Liam (c, 3, Liam's Map–Belle of Perintown, by Dehere) stamped himself as a sophomore to watch for the second half of the season with an eye-catching 'TDN Rising Star' performance over older horses on debut at Churchill Downs Saturday.
The 5-1 chance broke well from his outside draw and sat just off the leaders in third through a sharp opening quarter in :21.73. The Stonestreet homebred, trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, revved up three deep at the quarter pole and took off in the stretch like a good thing to graduate by 7 1/2 widening lengths over Atoka (Union Rags). Heavily favored Casual Affair (Into Mischief), a strong second on debut at Keeneland Apr. 23, was a disappointing fourth after getting squeezed at the start.
The final time for six furlongs was a swift 1:08.62.
The half-brother to Tomlin (Distorted Humor), MSW & MGSP, $251,895; and Strike It Rich (Unbridled's Song), GSW, $193,966, is the fourth 'TDN Rising Star' for young sire Liam's Map. Asmussen also trained fellow 'Rising Star' and GISW Wicked Whisper (Liam's Map).
Belle of Perintown, heroine of the 2003 GII Silverbulletday S. and third-place finisher in the GII Fair Grounds Oaks, is also responsible for the 2-year-old filly Ari Oakley (Gun Runner) and a yearling filly by Good Magic. She was bred to Uncle Mo for 2021. Beau Liam's third dam Jeanne Jones (Nijinsky II) won the 1988 GI Fantasy S. at Oaklawn and was second in the GI Kentucky Oaks and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.
3rd-Churchill Downs, $100,000, Msw, 5-29, 3yo/up, 6f, 1:08.62, ft, 7 1/2 lengths.
BEAU LIAM, c, 3, by Liam's Map
1st Dam: Belle of Perintown {GSW, $265,465}, by Dehere
2nd Dam: Hot Match, by Mr. Prospector
3rd Dam: Jeanne Jones, by Nijinsky II
Sales history: $385,000 RNA Ylg '19 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $57,488. Click for the Equibase.com chart, VIDEO, sponsored by TVG or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-Stonestreet Stables LLC; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen.
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