Limousine Liberal injured, retired at 7

The multiple graded stakes-winning sprinter Limousine Liberal fractured a sesamoid in his left front ankle, an injury that will end his career, according to trainer Ben Colebrook.

Limousine Liberal, a 7-year-old gelding, was entered to run in Saturday’s Grade 1 Churchill Downs Stakes, a race he won the last two years when it was a Grade 2.

Colebrook said the injury happened when the horse was galloping Wednesday at Keeneland. Colebrook said Limousine Liberal is at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington. He will not need surgery.

”It’s a hit. We were looking forward to [Saturday],”Colebrook said by phone from Keeneland Thursday. “This game, it gets you. We had a good run. The main thing is he’s going to be okay.”

Limousine Liberal, owned by Katherine Ball, has a record of 9-6-7 from 27 starts and earned $1,815,261.