Limousine Liberal narrowly repeats in Churchill Downs Stakes

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Limousine Liberal retained his flair for the dramatic and his affinity for Churchill Downs on Saturday by outfinishing Warrior’s Club and Awesome Slew to win the Grade 2, $500,000 Churchill Downs Stakes by a head.

Warrior’s Club, who beat Limousine Liberal by a neck in last month’s Grade 3 Commonwealth Stakes at Keeneland, was second by a head over Awesome Slew on Saturday in a race run over a sloppy track.

This was the second straight year that Limousine Liberal won the Churchill Downs by a head, having beat Awesome Slew by that margin last year, also over a wet track. It was the seventh time in 21 career starts that Limousine Liberal was in a race where he won or was beaten by a nose, head, or neck.

“He’s a fighter, man. He just wasn’t going to get beat today,” said Ben Colebrook, who trains Limousine Liberal for Katherine Ball.

Limousine Liberal, a 6-year-old gelding by Successful Appeal, rarely gets beat at Churchill Downs. He has six wins and one second-place finish in eight starts here. That could bode well for the fall as the Breeders’ Cup will be held here in November.

“Obviously, he’s got home-court advantage; they’re going to have to run to beat him,” Colebrook said.

They were doing some serious running in the Churchill Downs as Imperial Hint, the 6-5 favorite under Javier Castellano, set the pace of 22.10 seconds and 44.57 for the opening half-mile while being chased by Chief Cicatriz, Limousine Liberal, and Unbridled Outlaw.

Limousine Liberal, under Jose Ortiz, was fourth going into the turn and made a three-wide move to get into contention approaching the quarter pole. Limousine Liberal was within a half-length of Imperial Hint at the eighth pole, while Awesome Slew, who launched a bid entering the far turn, was flying outside under Irad Ortiz Jr.

Awesome Slew put his head in front of Limousine Liberal inside the eighth pole, but Limousine Liberal battled back to regain the lead and held the late-charging Warrior’s Club at bay.

Limousine Liberal covered the seven furlongs in 1:22.73 and returned $10.80 as the third choice. He earned a 101 Beyer Speed Figure.

Jose Ortiz said Awesome Slew “passed me, but [Limousine Liberal] is very game, he came back to him. He has done it before. When a horse gets close to him, he’s going to fight, that’s for sure. You lose and you win, but today he fought and he won.”

Colebrook said he would consider the Aristides here on June 2 or the True North at Belmont Park on June 8 for Limousine Liberal’s next start. Colebrook also has the talented Mr. Crow, who won an allowance race this week, for one of those spots.

Warrior’s Club, who was 23-1 when he beat Limousine Liberal at Keeneland, was the same price Saturday. His jockey, Luis Contreras, felt he had a perfect trip from well off the pace but just came up short.

“I was looking at the horse on the inside all the way in the stretch, and I was just trying to give everything I can to get there,” Contreras said. “He’s a fighter, he was running, it’s just too bad we didn’t get there.”

Irad Ortiz said he felt he might have made the lead too early on Awesome Slew.

“I never rode him before. When he makes the lead, he changes stride. I didn’t know that about him,” Ortiz said. “He ran big today. I think he should have won today.”

Whitmore and Chief Cicatriz finished fourth and fifth, while Imperial Hint, who had won six of his last seven starts, faded to sixth after being passed in the final furlong.

“I don’t think seven-eighths is the best distance for him,” Castellano said. “I think when he steps out with the best horses, I think he’s better off at six furlongs.”

Outplay, Unbridled Outlaw, and Conquest Windycity completed the order of finish.