Liam's Map cruises to Woodford Stakes victory

He made it look easy.

Liam's Map, ridden by jockey Javier Castellano, took the lead out of the gate and then went wire-to-wire to win the $600,000 Woodward Stakes (G1) at Saratoga on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015, by 4-3/4 lengths over second-place finisher Coach Inge. 

Liam's Map, with jockey Javier Castellano riding, went gate-to-wire to win the $600,000 Woodward Stakes at Saratoga on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015. (Photo by Coglianese Photos)

Finishing third in the eight-horse race for 3-year-olds and up was Wicked Strong.

The victory for 4-year-old Liam's Map was the first Grade 1 win in his career and helped make up for his very tough loss in the Whitney Stakes (G1) at Saratoga on Aug. 8; a race in which he also led from the start, but lost at the finish to Honor Code.

"The Whitney was as tough a loss as you'll experience," said Todd Pletcher, Liam's Map's trainer. "He ran an unbelievable race that day and everything he indicated to us from that time until today was that he was ready to come back over and put forth another big effort. I'm just happy to see him get that Grade 1 that he deserves so much."

Liam's Map, who is by Unbridled's Song-Miss Macy Sue, by Trippi, ran the 1-1/8th-mile race on a track rate Fast I 1:47.44.

The win continued the successful Saratoga meet for Castellano, who has been on a roll lately and is ranked second in the jockey standings at the track this year.

Castellano also rode Honor Code to victory in the Whitney Stakes (G1), and also rode Keen Ice to the upset win over American Pharoah in the Travers Stakes (G1) last week. He also won the Alabama Stakes (G1) aboard Embellish the Lace as well. In fact, he is the first jockey ever to win the Whitney, Woodward, Travers and Alabama in the same Saratoga meet.

"I'm very lucky and very fortunate to be in that spot," said Castellano. "I expected to have a great meet, but I think I was in the right place at the right time and everything fell into place. I had a lot of support; from owners and trainers and my agent."

Owned by Teresa Viola Racing Stables, Liam's Map now has five wins, two seconds and $808,940 in earnings in seven career starts.

Pletcher also trained second-place finisher Coach Inge for owner Mike Repole, and was pleased with that horse's run in the race as well.

"I'll tell you, Coach Inge ran unbelievable," said Pletcher. "It was a super, super effort. Good enough to win a lot of Woodwards."

Rounding out the field was Wicked Strong in third, followed by Effinex, Mylute, Bay of Plenty, Commanding Curve and Protonico.

There were also three other stakes races on Saturday at Saratoga. Here are the winners.

* Saranac Stakes (G3): World Approval

* Spinaway Stakes (G1): Rachel's Valentina (see story)

* Glen Falls Stakes (G3): White Rose

(Information provided by EquiBase.com, BloodHorse.com, and Brisnet.com)