Aristides a rebound spot for Limousine Liberal

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Intriguing story lines are plentiful among a field of seven sprinters set to clash Saturday in the Grade 3 Aristides at Churchill Downs.

Limousine Liberal and Barbados look to rebound off subpar efforts. Alsvid goes for his first victory since the 2015 Aristides. Union Jackson makes his stakes debut after capturing four of his first six starts. And Toews On Ice tries older horses as the lone 3-year-old in the lineup.

Mixed together, it’s a terrific 28th running of the $100,000 Aristides, which anchors a card that starts at 12:45 p.m. Eastern.

Limousine Liberal was sixth and Barbados was ninth in a rugged renewal of the Grade 2 Churchill Downs on the May 7 Kentucky Derby undercard. That race was at seven furlongs, and the Aristides is at six furlongs.

Limousine Liberal has “trained well and had two nice works since then, and we’re going back to six furlongs, which probably is a little better for us,” said trainer Ben Colebrook.

Alsvid, trained by Chris Hartman, has lost 11 straight races since defeating the 2014 Eclipse Award sprint champion, Work All Week, in a memorable renewal of the Aristides last year.

“He’s been beat up by some super-nice horses over the last year, and not a lot has gone his way,” said Hartman. “Hopefully, this is the spot to get back on track.”

Union Jackson is a Stonestreet Stables homemade product through and through: He’s by Curlin and out of Hot Dixie Chick, both Grade 1 winners for his Lexington, Ky.-based owner and breeder.

Toews On Ice, part of a small string Bob Baffert left here in the care of assistant Jimmy Barnes following the Derby, won the William Walker Stakes on opening night of the spring meet to run his record to 4 for 8.

Grande Basin and Schivarelli complete the lineup for the Aristides, which goes as the 10th of 11 Saturday races. The $67,000 Mighty Beau directly precedes it as race 9. Both are part of the 20-cent Single Six wager, which encompasses races 6 through 11.

KEY CONTENDERS

Limousine Liberal, by Successful Appeal

Last 3 Beyers: 97-100-85

◗ Huge efforts in a runner-up finish in the King’s Bishop last summer and an allowance triumph in April at Keeneland equated to triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures for a K.K. Ball homebred seeking his first graded victory.

Union Jackson, by Curlin

Last 3 Beyers: 94-95-78

◗ Steve Asmussen, who trained both his sire and dam, has brought this 4-year-old along quite methodically and now finally gives him a shot to show himself stakes-worthy.

Alsvid, by Officer

Last 3 Beyers: 98-95-86

◗ Easily the top earner in the field with a $1.1 million bankroll, this hard hitter has had the misfortune of facing Runhappy, Subtle Indian, and other top-class sprinters during much of his winless skein.

Barbados, by Speightstown

Last 3 Beyers: 48-100-88

◗ Dogged by a foot issue since last fall, this classy colt clearly is much better than his Derby Day debacle might suggest.

Toews On Ice, by Archarcharch

Last 3 Beyers: 84-68-85

◗ Three-year-old draws the tricky rail post.

◗ He had a perfect trip in his score in the slop on opening night.