Liam's Map's Sire Potential Beginning to Flourish

The recently completed Belmont Racing Festival at Saratoga Race Course resulted in minimal change in the North American General Sires' List. But the one sire that saw a substantial rise in the rankings is Liam's Map .

The sire's second-leading earner, Deterministic, won a thrilling edition of the $1,000,000 Manhattan Stakes (G1T) and in the process catapulted his sire eight spots from No. 23 to No. 15. Should he maintain that position for the next six months, it will likely prove the best year of his stallion career.

Beginning his stallion career in 2016, Liam's Map is part of a class of sires that includes American Pharoah  and Constitution . The son of Unbridled's Song has been third, fourth, or fifth in his class every year since his first crop in 2019. 

That same reliability launched him from 125th overall sire by progeny earnings in 2019 to where he has fluctuated between No. 40 and a career-best ranking of 28 in 2021. 

In a short time, Liam's Map has sired six grade 1 winners—Colonel Liam , Deterministic, Burnham Square, Juju's Map, Basin , and Wicked Whisper. They are in addition to other standouts such as Crazy Beautiful, Roses for Debra, and Rushie. 

Among his current crop of 3-year-olds is Honeymoon Stakes (G3T) winner Firenze Flavor and Senorita Stakes (G2T) runner-up Amorita. They, like Colonel Liam and Deterministic, show their talents on turf. Their sire is the fifth-ranked turf sire this year. 

Even though Liam's Map seems to excel at fathering turf runners, he made his name on the dirt.

Running for trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Teresa Viola Racing Stables and West Point Thoroughbreds, Liam's Map teased his abilities as a 3-year-old, but it wasn't until the next year that he lived up to his potential. He compiled a 6-2-0 record from eight starts between both years, but capped his racing career by winning two grade 1 races. He was bred by Albaugh Family Stable.

After narrowly losing to Honor Code by a neck in the Whitney Stakes (G1), Liam's Map romped to a nearly five-length win in the Woodward Stakes (G1) before crowning his career with a 2 1/2-length triumph in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1). 

Following in his steps on the dirt is Burnham Square, who, as a 3-year-old in 2025, has seen success with wins in the Holly Bull Stakes (G1) and the Blue Grass Stakes (G1), as well as a second in the Matt Winn Stakes (G3). He also had top-six efforts in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) and the Kentucky Derby (G1). 

From an earnings perspective, Liam's Map's progeny have delivered rising returns. Only in 2022 did he see a dip, but bounced back the following year with what was then a record year at the bank.  

Liam's Map stands at Lane's End near Versailles, Ky., for $40,000.