Three New Sons of Liam's Map on Display at July Sale

As important a stallion as Unbridled's Song has been to United States breeding and racing, the question as to which of his sons will carry his line forward remains unanswered more than 10 years after his death in 2013. Two-time grade 1 winner Liam's Map, winner of the 2015 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) and now a successful stallion with six crops to race, looks like an increasingly serious candidate. Liam's Map stands at Lane's End near Versailles, Ky., for a fee of $40,000 in 2024. His fast, versatile progeny—hallmark traits of Unbridled's Song—include multiple grade 1 winner and 2021 champion turf male Colonel Liam, plus Juju's Map, Wicked Whisper, and Basin—who were all precocious grade 1 winners on dirt at age 2. Basin is one of three of Liam's Map's sons, along with Beau Liam and Rushie, whose first-crop yearlings will be featured at Fasig-Tipton's The July Sale, the first yearling auction of the North American season, which takes place July 9 in Lexington. BEAU LIAM As a select sale, there is a bar for individual horses to meet to gain entry to the July sale, which is known for well-conformed, athletic horses with stakes potential. The fact Beau Liam landed 12 yearlings in the catalog is a good sign. A Stonestreet Stables homebred, Beau Liam only raced four times, but the manner in which he ran was extremely impressive. He debuted at Churchill Downs May 29 of his 3-year-old season in 2021 and won by 7 1/2 lengths while running six furlongs in 1:08.62. He stepped up and won consecutive allowance races after that, the second one at Saratoga Race Course where he ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.05. His career was cut short by injury after a second-place finish in the Ack Ack Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs. Airdrie Stud president Bret Jones stands Beau Liam at his family's farm near Midway, Ky., for a $6,000 fee in 2024. "We just happened to be at Churchill the day he broke his maiden, and he was ultra impressive. We immediately tabbed him as a potential stallion," Jones said. "Those first three starts were about as impressive as a horse can be. The debut was the fastest six-furlong maiden special weight in the history of Churchill Downs, which is a pretty incredible feat. He followed up with Beyer Speed Figures of 106 and 107 in his next two starts. For a 3-year-old to do that is extraordinary." Jones said the first attribute that comes to mind when he looks at Beau Liam and his progeny is athleticism. "He is a very athletically built horse. You have to be a real athlete to run the times he did, and we are seeing that athleticism in the babies he is getting," Jones said. "We were very happy we were able to work a deal with Barbara Banke, and Spendthrift Farm as well, to get him to Airdrie. He's the type of physical we love to be able to put in the stallion barn. "There is tremendous brilliance and ability through that sire line, and hopefully it will be passed on next through sons and daughters of Beau Liam." Beau Liam's appeal as a stallion prospect also includes female side pedigree. He is out of the grade 2-winning Dehere mare Belle of Perintown and is a half to grade 3 winner Strike It Rich (Unbridled's Song), stakes winners Ari Oakley (Gun Runner) and Tomlin (Distorted Humor), and stakes-placed Sumptuous (Hennessy), who is dam of April 21 Santa Maria Stakes (G2) winner Coffee in Bed (Curlin) and grade 3 winner Great Stuff (Quality Road). BASIN Spendthrift Farm is partners with Airdrie in Beau Liam, but the Lexington farm also invested in a second son of Liam's Map in 2019 Hopeful Stakes (G1) winner Basin. Ned Toffey, general manager of Spendthrift, talked about Spendthrift's involvement in these two new stallions. "There was getting to be some concern whether Unbridled's Song was going to produce a son, but Liam's Map has certainly done a good job, and this is an important stallion line to have representatives of," Toffey said. Basin broke his maiden in July of his 2-year-old season at Saratoga Race Course and then won the Hopeful. At age 3 he added placings in the Rebel Stakes (G2), Arkansas Derby (G1), and Amsterdam Stakes (G2). At 4 he won the seven-furlong Sir Shackleton Stakes at Gulfstream Park. "Basin was a very precocious 2-year-old, an attractive, athletic horse who was a grade 1 winner at 2," Toffey said. "We felt he was a horse that would appeal to breeders, especially at a lower price point, but we could see him breaking out and becoming any kind." Basin's 2024 stud fee was $5,000. He is represented by four yearlings in the July sale. Toffey said Basin is producing, "typey, athletic horses that look a lot like him." "The Basins should be precocious. They're fast-looking, but they appear to have some class and style to them too," Toffey said. "We're very very happy with them." RUSHIE The third son of Liam's Map represented at the July sale is 2020 Pat Day Mile Stakes (G2) winner Rushie, who started his stud career at Pleasant Acres Stallions in Ocala, Fla., in 2022 but moved to owner Dex Comardelle's Blue Star Racing in Scott, La., in 2023. Rushie's 2024 stud fee was $4,000. Comardelle purchased Rushie at the conclusion of his racing career. Comardelle said Rushie's owners on the track, James and Donna Daniell, are supporting him with mares, as is Comardelle's Louisiana ownership group. "We are supporting him, and we are excited to see how this first crop is received at the sales and then on into their 2-year-old season," Comardelle said. "We're really grateful to have a prospect of his caliber at stud. "Liam's Map is red hot. I think the sky is the limit for him as he keeps turning out winners and grade 1 horses left and right. Liam's Map could be the foundational sire from the Unbridled's Song line that the industry has been looking for for a while." Comardelle said the decision to move Rushie was in reaction to Louisiana's elevated purse levels thanks to gaming revenue. Hip 56, a Florida-bred colt by Rushie out of the winning Uncaptured mare Mochaccino, is his lone representative in the July sale and will be consigned by Eaton Sales, agent. The colt got a nice update when his half sister You Need Me (St Patrick's Day) finished second in the May 11 Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies Stakes in her debut and followed that up with a maiden special weight victory at Gulfstream Park. Comardelle said Rushie is stamping his progeny. "I am excited by how these foals are looking," Comardelle said. "They're well balanced, with good hips and plenty of leg. They are mature-looking foals that look like they could be early and precocious, but with enough size and scope that they could stretch out down the road. "It's great to have one up there in the July sale. It's always good to get representation early in the yearling selling season, and that's always been a great sale that's well attended."