Limousine Liberal Repeats in CD Stakes

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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Trainer Ben Colebrook pumps his fists after Limousine Liberal, with Jose Ortiz up, wins the Churchill Downs

A year ago the Ball family's Limousine Liberal caught a wet-fast track in the Churchill Downs Stakes Presented by TwinSprires.com (G2) and won by a head. This year he caught a sloppy surface under the Twin Spires and got the job done again, scoring a head victory over Warrior's Club in the seven-furlong race.

With Jose Ortiz up again for trainer Ben Colebrook, the 6-year-old Successful Appeal  gelding got the trip in 1:22.73. Warrior's Club was a game second while closing from the outside. Between those two, another head back in the photo finish was Awesome Slew, who was second in last year's renewal.

Despite Warrior's Club being owned by the Churchill Downs Racing Club, Limousine Liberal is the "house horse" and now sports a 6-1-0 mark over the track in eight starts.

"This has been his best year," said a soggy Colebrook in the winner's circle. "He's trained better than ever this year. His last race at Keeneland was good, he was just a little unlucky."

Colebrook was also quick to point out the Breeders' Cup World Championships will be held at Churchill Downs this fall.

Limousine Liberal was neck shy of Warrior's Club in the April 7 Commonwealth Stakes (G2) at Keeneland in his 2018 debut.

Imperial Hint, runner up in last year's TwinSpires Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) and the race favorite, broke on top in the Churchill Downs and Javier Castellano let him cruise to an open lead through an opening quarter in a brisk :22.10. Limousine Liberal was sitting in the second slot, while being chased by Chief Cicatriz on the rail and Unbridled Outlaw on the outside.

Ortiz let off the gas for a bit as Imperial Hint was chased by Unbridled Outlaw after a half-mile in a brisk :44.57. Turning for home, Imperial Hint began to weaken as Limousine Liberal fought a fresh batch of closers in deep stretch. He drifted out inside the eighth pole (six furlongs in 1:09.76), and was able to prevail.

Out of the In Excess mare Gift of Gab, Limousine Liberal was bred by Mike and Katherine Ball. Successful Appeal sports a 4x4 inbreeding to 1965 Kentucky Derby winner Lucky Debonair. The Ball's Donamire Farm purchased the California-bred Gift of Gab for $110,000 at the 2006 Keeneland September yearling sale. Trained by Katherine Ball, she was winless in eight tries.

Limousine Liberal, who has also won the Aristides Stakes (G3) and two other added-money races under the Twin Spires, paid $10.80, $5.40, and $3.40. Warrior's Club returned $15.80 and $6.80, and Awesome Slew paid $3.20. The $2 exacta, 7-8, returned $252.60.

Limousine Liberal has earned $1,333,261 off a 8-6-3 mark in 21 starts.