Colonel Liam, Domestic Spending Dead Heat in the Turf Classic

LOUISVILLE, KY – Favorite Colonel Liam and Domestic Spending hit the finish line together to dead heat in the 35th running of the $1 million Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic (G1) for 4-year-olds and up.

“He was doing everything right, it was a great race. It was so close, so close. On the big TV, the slow-mo, I say, ‘Man, I’ve got a good chance to win. Then here it is, a dead heat.” said Irad Ortiz Jr. on Colonel Liam.

Flavien Prat on Domestic Spending said “I sat behind some horses, taking my time and saving some ground, then when I had the chance, we got in the right path. He had a tremendous turn of foot today. To be honest, I didn’t know the results. I came up on him so fast, I wasn’t sure. Right past the wire, I knew I was ahead of him, but at the wire, I wasn’t so sure.”

Smooth Like Strait and Count Again completed the order in the Turf Classic.

This is Colonel Liam’s 3rd career graded stake win and he improved his record to 8-6-0-1. The 4-year-old son of Liam’s Map has earned $1,264,565 for Robert E. and Lawana L. Low.

This is Domestic Spending’s 2nd career graded stakes win and he improved his record to 6-5-0-1. The 4-year-old son of Kingman has earned $914,500 for Klaravich Strables.

“I was very proud of his effort. It looked like he edged clear inside the eighth pole and I was proud of the Irad urged on to the finish.” said Todd Pletcher on Colonel Liam

“It was a nail biter there. (Jockey) Irad (Ortiz Jr.) had a tough choice (between the two horses). He stayed with Colonel Liam because he’s been running this year and I was so fortunate to get Flavien (Prat) to ride the horse. I had a lot of confidence in him. It was a real tough decision for Irad, so I totally understand those things. We’ve had a lot of success together. You can see why it was very tough decision. It was very close between the horses. I thought Flavien did a great job. He rode to instructions. We nearly got there to get the whole prize in one more jump, but I’ll take it. Especially when I see the slow-mo, I’ll take the dead heat because of the head bob.” said Chad Brown on Domestic Spending.

Colonel Liam returned $2.80 to win, $3.40 to place, and $2.80 to show. Domestic Spending returned $5.20 to win, $5.40 to place and $3.80 to show.