News Limousine Liberal Seeking Breakout Win in Saturday’s Grade III, $100,000 Aristides June 1, 2016 News Limousine Liberal Seeking Breakout Win in Saturday’s Grade III, $100,000 Aristides June 1, 2016 By: Jared Welch twitterfacebooklinkedinemail Share: share on facebook share on twitter share on linkedin email this article LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Wednesday, June 1, 2016) – Katherine Ball’s 4-year-old homebred Limousine Liberal will attempt to land his first career stakes win when he tackles six rivals, including defending champ Alsvid, in Saturday’s 28th running of the $100,000 Aristides (Grade III) at Churchill Downs. A competitive field of seven 3-year-olds and up were entered Wednesday for Saturday’s six-furlong sprint. The Aristides, named in honor of the inaugural Kentucky Derby winner of 1875, is one of two stakes events on Saturday’s 11-race program. Churchill Downs’ first race is 12:45 p.m. (all times Eastern). The Aristides goes as Race 10 at approximately 5:21 p.m. and the inaugural $67,000-added Mighty Beau Overnight Stakes, a five-furlong sprint on the Matt Winn Turf Course, is the ninth race at approximately 4:51 p.m. Limousine Liberal, trained by Lexington-based Ben Colebrook, has run fast against top competition but has yet to win a stakes event. A winner of three races and $254,220 in seven starts, the gelded son of Successful Appeal was second in last summer’s $500,000 King’s Bishop (GI) at Saratoga – won by 2015 champion sprinter Runhappy – and $300,000 Gallant Bob (GIII) at Parx before finishing 11th of 14 in the $1.375 million TwinSpires.com Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI) at Keeneland. Limousine Liberal’s 4-year-old debut at Keeneland on April 9 was magnificent as he set a clear pace and drew off in the stretch under a hand ride to score a 4 ½-length victory in 1:15.05, which was a 6 ½-furlong track record. Four weeks later, Limousine Liberal set the pace in the $500,000 Churchill Downs (GII) on Kentucky Derby Day – a swift :22.24 for the first quarter mile and :44.64 for the half – but faltered late down the lane and finished four lengths back of winner Catalina Red in sixth. Three of Limousine Liberal’s Aristides rivals are stakes winners: nine-time stakes champ and millionaire Alsvid (41-13-11-7—$1,172,618); three-time stakes hero Barbados (13-4-3-1—$369,720), winner of last year’s Spectacular Bid and Hutcheson (GIII) at Gulfstream Park for trainer Mike Tomlinson; and the Bob Baffert-trained 3-year-old Toews On Ice (8-4-1-2—$307,700), who won his fourth stakes event when capturing the William Walker on Opening Night of the Spring Meet. Alsvid, who beat 2014 champion sprinter Work All Week by two lengths to win last year’s Aristides in 1:09.34 for James Rogers’ Black Hawk Stable and trainer Chris Hartman, returns to dirt after finishing second to Rocket Heat in the $150,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint (GIII) on the Kentucky Oaks undercard. Alsvid is seeking his first victory since winning the Aristides. He has four seconds and four thirds in an 11-race winless stretch. The complete Aristides field from the rail out (with jockeys): Toews On Ice (Channing Hill), Barbados (Joe Rocco Jr.), Limousine Liberal (Corey Lanerie), Union Jackson (Ricardo Santana Jr.), Alsvid (Chris Landeros), Grande Basin (Miguel Mena) and Schivarelli (Robby Albarado). Toews On Ice will carry 118 pounds, while all others tote 120. Stonestreet Stables’ immaculately-bred 4-year-old Union Jackson will test stakes-company for the first time after winning four of his first six starts for trainer Steve Asmussen, including a 4 ½-length romp in a conditioned allowance-optional claiming event at Keeneland on April 15. Union Jackson’s sire Curlin was the 2007-08 Horse of the Year and winner of the 2008 Stephen Foster Handicap (GI) at Churchill Downs. His dam Hot Dixie Chick broke her maiden at Churchill Downs by 5 ¾ lengths in 2009 before winning three consecutive stakes races, led by the Grade I Spinaway at Saratoga. The Eddie Kenneally-trained Schivarelli is scheduled for his first start in 306 days. Unraced since Aug. 3, the 5-year-old Florida-bred was runner-up to Viva Majorca in last June’s $67,750 Kelly’s Landing at Churchill Downs. Grande Basin was supplemented to the race for $3,000 at the time of entry. The 4-year-old Louisiana-bred won three consecutive races at Fair Grounds this winter but was never a threat in a Keeneland allowance-optional claiming event in his first start for trainer Dallas Stewart. A pair of $600,000-earners, nine-time Ohio-bred stakes winner Rivers Run Deep (26-12-7-3—$686,200) and five-time stakes winner Hogy (33-14-6-4—$687,412), are among 11 older horses entered in a deep first running of the Mighty Beau. The field (with jockeys): Rivers Run Deep (Albin Jimenez); Ray’swarrior(Landeros); Billy Two Hats (Jesus Castanon); Wilbo (Santana); Latent Revenge (Francisco Torres); Bucchero (Marcelino Pedroza Jr.); Made Bail (Jack Gilligan); Tiger Tank (Lanerie); Shadow Rock (Mena); Hogy (Rocco); and Bottle Rocket (Brian Hernandez Jr.). Churchill Downs admission gates will open Saturday at 11:30 a.m. General Admission is $3, reserved seating is $10 and reserved dining packages are $38. Tickets can be purchased in advance online at ChurchillDowns.com/Tickets. Churchill Downs
Final Breeders’ Cup 2024 Challenge Series Rapid-Fire Picks | Blinkers Off 687 The Racing Dudes preview and give picks for the final… Read More
Breeders’ Cup 2024 Challenge Series Rapid-Fire Picks | Blinkers Off 686 The Racing Dudes preview and give picks for this weekend’s… Read More
Santa Anita Preview & FREE California Crown All-Stakes Pick 5 | The Magic Mike Show 568 The Magic Mike Show guys preview Santa Anita Park on… Read More
College Football Week 5 & NFL Week 4 Picks | Dudes Who Bet Sports 208 Aaron & Papa Dude give their College Football picks for… Read More
Pennsylvania Derby, Cotillion, and Breeders’ Cup Prep Picks | Blinkers Off 685 The Racing Dudes preview and give picks for Saturday’s $1… Read More
Final Breeders’ Cup 2024 Challenge Series Rapid-Fire Picks | Blinkers Off 687 The Racing Dudes preview and give picks for the final… Read More
Coolmore Turf Mile 2024 Picks & Tips | Get BRAND NEW Keeneland Betting Bible! Get the 2024 Coolmore Turf Mile Betting Bible, featuring complete… Read More
Claiborne Breeders Futurity Picks and Preview 2024 Aaron previews the 2024 Claiborne Breeders Futurity (G1) at Keeneland… Read More
Champagne Stakes Picks and Preview 2024 Aaron previews the 2024 Champagne Stakes (G1) at Belmont at… Read More
Coolmore Turf Mile Picks and Preview 2024 Aaron previews the 2024 Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes (G1) at… Read More