Limousine Liberal Heads BC Slate at Keeneland

Katherine Ball's Limousine Liberal completed his major preparation for the Breeders' Cup World Championships in two weeks by working five furlongs in 1:00 2/5 on his own under exercise rider Freddy Torres Oct. 20 at Keeneland.

"It got a little messed up at the start (with two other horses in front of him), but he finished good," trainer Ben Colebrook said. "It's fine."

Working immediately after the morning renovation break over a fast track, Limousine Liberal blitzed the final quarter of a mile in :22 2/5.

Limousine Liberal is likely to be pre-entered in the $2 million TwinSpires Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) and the $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1). The gelding has competed twice in the Sprint, finishing 11th as a 3-year-old at Keeneland in 2015 and getting elevated to fourth via disqualification in 2016 at Santa Anita Park.

"I'm not doing anything different with him (from previous Breeders' Cup starts)," Colebrook said. "The only difference is he gets to run at his home track."

Limousine Liberal has compiled a record of 8-6-1-0 at Churchill Downs, where the Breeders' Cup will be held this year. With three of the victories coming in graded stakes. He is scheduled to ship to Churchill Breeders' Cup week.

Trainer Kenny McPeek sent Signalman, second in the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1), and Salvator Mundi, third in the Dixiana Bourbon Stakes (G3) out in company Saturday in preparation for their respective Breeders' Cup starts.

Breezing after the morning renovation break, the duo stopped the clock in 1:00 1/5 for five furlongs. According to Keeneland clockers, they galloped out in 1:13 2/5 with splits of :23 2/5, :35 1/5, and :47 3/5.

Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. rode Signalman on the outside, and exercise rider Danny Ramsey was aboard Salvator Mundi on the rail.

Signalman, owned by Tommie Lewis and Magdalena Racing, will be entered in the $2 million Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), while Salvator Mundi, owned by Magdalena Racing, is pointed to the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T).

"This was another maintenance breeze," McPeek said. "At this point, (my Breeders' Cup horses) will have their final works here. They'll either work Friday or Saturday next week, depending on the weather."

McPeek's Breeders' Cup contingent also includes Darley Alcibiades (G1) winner Restless Rider—aiming for the $2 million Tito's Handmade Vodka Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1)—and Princesa Carolina, the fifth-place finisher in the JPMorgan Chase Jessamine (G2T) who is to run in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T). Both worked at Keeneland Oct. 19.

McPeek said the horses will remain the Lexington track before shipping to Churchill Oct. 29 or 30.

Carl Moore Management and Brad Grady's Mom's On Strike continued her preparation for the $2 million Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T) by working a half-mile in :49 3/5 on the dirt under trainer Joe Sharp after the Saturday morning renovation break.

"Things went great this morning," Sharp said of the 5-year-old mare, who galloped out to five furlongs in 1:02.

Winner of the Bewitch Stakes (G3T) at Keeneland in the spring, Mom's On Strike finished second in the listed Ramsey Farm Stakes at Kentucky Downs Sept. 13. Saturday's work was her third since the race at Kentucky Downs.

"She's been doing really good since her last race; eating well," said Sharp, noting the mare already has been pre-entered for the Breeders' Cup, which will mark her first test in grade 1 company on the grass.

"I think having a big field of 14 horses would be a big help to her," Sharp said. "Her last two races, she made the lead and then pricked her ears and put on the brakes."

Sharp, who has a barn at Churchill Downs, said Mom's On Strike more than likely will move the hour west to Louisville next week and have a grass work Sunday.