Limousine Liberal strong favorite in Commonwealth

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Ben Colebrook would have preferred something a bit shorter than seven furlongs for his stable star. Regardless, there’s little doubt Limousine Liberal will be a solid favorite Saturday when he faces nine other older horses in the Grade 3 Commonwealth at Keeneland.

“I’ve got him cranked up about as well as I can,” said Colebrook, who trains Limousine Liberal for K.K. Ball. “We missed a little training because of the weather here over the winter, but hopefully it won’t matter. I mean, six furlongs probably would be better, but the timing is perfect into Derby Day. The horse is doing really well.”

Limousine Liberal, with Corey Lanerie to ride from post 6, is the 6-5 program choice in the $250,000 Commonwealth. The race comes four weeks before the Grade 2 Churchill Downs, which Limousine Liberal won last year on the Derby card and is his early-season goal for 2018.

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Last year was a big one for Limousine Liberal, as he earned $521,641 in winning four of seven starts, all in stakes, while employing a reliable stalking style. The 6-year-old homebred gelding stands less than $15,000 from becoming racing’s newest millionaire and the first ever for the Ball family.

His primary opposition in the Commonwealth figures to come from Conquest Windycity (post 5, Jose Ortiz), whose last start resulted in a victory over Mind Your Biscuits, now a two-time winner of the Dubai Golden Shaheen; Westwood (post 3, Irad Ortiz Jr.), a speedy Godolphin homebred with a field-high 105 Beyer Speed Figure on his past performances; and Behavioral Bias (post 2, Jose Lezcano), an improving gelding from the Al Stall Jr. barn.

This is the 32nd running of the Commonwealth, which leads off an all-graded-stakes pick five (pool guarantee, $300,000) as the sixth of 11 Saturday races.

KEY CONTENDERS

Limousine Liberal, by Successful Appeal
Last 3 Beyers: 92-95-94

◗ Aside from an unprecedented sweep of four stakes at Churchill last year (the Churchill, Aristides, Kelly’s Landing, and Bet On Sunshine), he also was third in three graded events, including a troubled trip in the Phoenix here in the fall.

Conquest Windycity, by Tiznow
Last 3 Beyers: 98-84-88

◗ Claimed by Mike Maker for owner David Staudacher for $62,500 at the Churchill fall meet, he has breezed six times since his 16-1 upset of Mind Your Biscuits on Feb. 9 at Gulfstream Park.

Westwood, by Bernardini
Last 3 Beyers: 92-105-94

◗ This 4-year-old gelding has never run in a stakes, but his big Beyers say he could be a tricky catch as he stretches out off slightly shorter Aqueduct races for Kiaran McLaughlin.

Behavioral Bias, by Shackleford
Last 3 Beyers: 91-90-88

◗ A 96 Beyer from his maiden triumph last summer at Saratoga is a reminder of the raw potential owned by this 4-year-old gelding.