Keeneland: Limited Liability goes in Elkhorn; Duke in Ben Ali

Limited Liability, who has hit the board in five consecutive stakes starts, is the 8-5 morning-line favorite Saturday in a field of 12 plus one also-eligible for the 40th Grade 2, $400,000 Elkhorn Stakes for older horses going 1 1/2 miles on the grass at Keeneland.

The Elkhorn will go as the ninth of 11 races with a 5:16 p.m. EDT post time. The first post is at 1 p.m.

A Stuart Janney homebred who is trained by Shug McGaughey, 6-year-old Limited Liability began his 2025 campaign with a third-place finish in the William L. McKnight (G3) on the Pegasus undercard Jan. 25 at Gulfstream Park. Frankie Dettori rides the Kitten's Joy gelding from post 6.

Owned by Mandy Pope’s Whisper Hill Farm and trained by Todd Pletcher, Grand Sonata comes into the race off a runner-up effort in the Mac Diarmida (G2) on March 1 going 1 3/8 miles at Gulfstream Park. Júnior Alvarado has the mount from post 2.

Verstappen, winner of the 2023 Elkhorn, was supplemented into the race by owners Andrew Farm, For the People Racing Stable and Debra O’Connor. Trained by Brendan Walsh, Verstappen will be ridden by Declan Cannon from post 4.

Duke of Love, a Grade 3 winner who makes his second start off a 1 1/2-year layoff, is the 5-2 program favorite for the 94th running of the $350,000 Ben Ali (G3) for 4-year-olds and up going 1 3/16 miles on the main track. Carded as the 10th race, the Ben Ali is scheduled for 5:48 p.m. EDT.

Owned by MyRacehorse and trained by Josie Carroll, 6-year-old Duke of Love was fifth last out in an allowance start at Gulfstream Park. It was his first time racing since he finished fifth in the 2023 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) at Saratoga. The Cupid entire's past performances include wins in the 2022 Prince of Wales in his native Canada and the West Virginia Governor's (G3) in 2023.

John Velazquez rides Duke of Love from post 6 in the field of seven. 

Owned by Bourbon Lane Stable and Six Column Stables, Uno Mas Bourbon is trained by Ian Wilkes, who has two Grade 1 victories on his ledger for the spring meet. He won the Super Derby in his stakes debut in September. He closed 2024 with third-place finishes in the Fayette (G2) and the Clark (G2). Brian Hernandez Jr. has the mount from post 7.