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First winner for the late Saint Liam Horse of the Year SAINT LIAM (Saint Ballado), who died after just one season at stud, was represented by his first winner when Draw a Blank captured the 1ST race at Presque Isle Downs on Wednesday. The Timothy Hamm-trained juvenile miss pressed the early pace, took over in the stretch and held on for a neck score beneath Huber Villa-Gomez. The chestnut filly -- running in the colors of Blazing Meadows Farm, Larry Lehman and Jim Messanger -- ran five furlongs on the Tapeta in :57 4/5. Campaigned throughout his career by Mr. and Mrs. William K. Warren Jr., Saint Liam flashed talent at three for Tony Reinstedler. The bay broke his maiden in his second start, and later that season, placed second in the Iowa Derby. Saint Liam only reached the peak of his powers as an older horse, becoming a star under the tutelage of Richard Dutrow. At four, he placed in three straight graded events. Saint Liam just missed by a head in the 2004 New Orleans H. (G2), defeating Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Funny Cide; finished third in the Oaklawn H. (G2); and returned from a nearly five-month layoff to press Horse of the Year Ghostzapper in an epic renewal of the Woodward S. (G1), where he was narrowly outdueled in a blistering 1:46 1/5 for nine furlongs at Belmont Park. He concluded his season on a high note, earning his first stakes victory in the Clark H. (G2). The following year, Saint Liam would take home Horse of the Year honors along with the Eclipse Award for champion older male. He kicked off his 2005 campaign with a 3 3/4-length triumph in the Donn H. (G1). Finishing second was subsequent Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) winner Roses in May, while Eddington, the future hero of the Pimlico Special (G1), checked in third. After an uncharacteristic sixth in the Santa Anita H. (G1), Saint Liam got back on track with an impressive tally in the Stephen Foster H. (G1). He next ventured to Saratoga, only to learn first-hand of its reputation as the graveyard of champions. Sent off as the 3-5 choice in the Whitney H. (G1), Saint Liam was unable to catch a loose-on-the-lead Commentator (Distorted Humor), giving him six pounds and falling a neck short at the wire. Dutrow did not want a repeat of the Whitney next time out in the Woodward, and he accordingly deployed a rabbit to keep Commentator busy. The strategy worked to perfection. Saint Liam strolled home by two lengths, with Commentator tiring to a remote third. Making his final start in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Belmont, he rallied to a one-length decision, and wrapped up the Horse of the Year title. Saint Liam retired with $4,456,995 in earnings from his 20-9-6-1 line. He entered stud in 2006 at Lane's End Farm near Versailles, Kentucky. That August, he fractured his left hind leg while being led to his paddock, and with the injury being too severe for surgery to fix, he was euthanized. Bred by Edward P. Evans in Kentucky, Saint Liam was out of the stakes-winning and Grade 2-placed Quiet Dance (Quiet American). He was a half-brother to Grade 3 victor Congressionalhonor (Forestry) and current sophomore American Dance (A.P. Indy), who was third in the Remsen S. (G2) last fall. He hailed from the family of Minstrella (The Minstrel), the 1986 champion two-year-old in Ireland, and the dam of Grade 2 winner and stakes producer Colonial Minstrel (Pleasant Colony). Saint Liam's fifth dam, Hall of Famer Gallorette (*Challenger II), was named champion handicap mare in 1946. Gallorette came from the same family as 1935 Triple Crown legend Omaha (Gallant Fox); Ascot Gold Cup and Champion S. hero Flares (Gallant Fox); champion Jacola (*Jacopo), herself the dam of 1947 champion three-year-old colt Phalanx (Pilate); and Johnstown (Jamestown), winner of the 1939 Kentucky Derby and Belmont S.
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