Atras has Fair Grounds, Keeneland stakes on horizon for Chasing Liberty

Chasing Liberty won the $100,000 Bob Bork Texas Turf Mile on the undercard of the Houston Ladies Classic last Saturday. It was his third stakes win following the National Thoroughbred League Juvenile Sprint on Sept. 1 at Kentucky Downs and the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes in his prior start Nov. 1 at Del Mar. Manny Franco was aboard for the Bob Bork.

“I was slightly concerned coming off two months and we had a little bit of training interrupted by the weather, but Manny gave him a perfect trip, saved ground,” trainer Rob Atras said. “He accelerated down the lane nicely. I couldn’t be more pleased with him,”

Atras said Chasing Liberty returned to his Fair Grounds base the next day and that plans going forward are being discussed with the horse’s breeder and owner, Twin Creeks.

“The Black Gold Stakes on March 1 is a possibility,” Atras said, “and after that Keeneland, maybe even the Transylvania.”

The $100,000 Black Gold is for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on turf. The Grade 3, $600,000 Transylvania is at the same distance for 3-year-olds on April 4 at Keeneland.

Atras won the Transylvania last year with Neat, who came into the Bob Bork off a win.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.