Keeneland news: Limousine Liberal works for 'home track' Breeders' Cup

Katherine Ball’s Limousine Liberal completed his major preparation for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships in two weeks by working five furlongs in 1:00.40 on his own under exercise rider Freddy Torres Saturday morning.

“It got a little messed up at the start (with two other horses in front of him), but he finished good,” trainer Ben Colebrook said. “It’s fine.”

Working immediately after the morning renovation break over a fast track, Limousine Liberal blitzed the final quarter of a mile in :22.40.

Limousine Liberal is likely to be pre-entered in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint and the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. The gelding has competed twice in the Sprint, finishing 11th as a 3-year-old here in 2015 and getting elevated to fourth via disqualification at Santa Anita in 2016.

“I’m not doing anything different with him (from previous Breeders’ Cup starts),” Colebrook said. “The only difference is he gets to run at his home track.”

Limousine Liberal has compiled a record of 8-6-1-0 at Churchill Downs with three of the victories coming in graded stakes. He is scheduled to ship to Churchill Breeders’ Cup week.

SIGNALMAN, SALVATOR MUNDI WORK FOR BREEDERS’ CUP STARTS

For trainer Kenny McPeek, Signalman, second in the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1), and Salvator Mundi, third in the Dixiana Bourbon (G3), worked in company at Keeneland Saturday morning in preparation for races on Nov. 2 during the Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Churchill Downs.

Breezing after the morning renovation break, the duo stopped the clock in 1:00.20 for 5 furlongs. According to Keeneland clockers, they galloped out in 1:13.40 with splits of :23.40, :35.20 and :47.60.

Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. rode Signalman on the outside, and exercise rider Danny Ramsey was aboard Salvator Mundi on the rail.



Signalman, owned by Tommie Lewis and Magdalena Racing, will be entered in the $2 million Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, while Salvator Mundi, owned by Magdalena Racing, is pointed to the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.

“This was another maintenance breeze,” McPeek said. “At this point, (my Breeders’ Cup horses) will have their final works here. They’ll either work Friday or Saturday next week, depending on the weather.”

McPeek’s Breeders’ Cup contingent also includes Darley Alcibiades (G1) winner Restless Rider – aiming for the $2 million Tito’s Handmade Vodka Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) – and Princesa Carolina, the fifth-place finisher in the Jessamine (G2) who is to run in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1). They worked here yesterday.

McPeek said the horses will remain at Keeneland before shipping to Churchill Oct. 29 or 30.

MOM’S ON STRIKE TAKES ANOTHER STEP TOWARD BREEDERS' CUP

Carl Moore Management and Brad Grady’s Mom’s On Strike continued her preparation for the $2 million Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf on Nov. 3 by working a half mile in :49.60 on the dirt under trainer Joe Sharp after the Saturday morning renovation break.

“Things went great this morning,” Sharp said of the 5-year-old mare, who galloped out 5 furlongs in 1:02.

Winner of the Bewitch (G3) here this spring, Mom’s On Strike finished second in the Ramsey Farm Stakes at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 13. Saturday’s work was her third since the race at Kentucky Downs.

“She’s been doing really good since her last race; eating well,” said Sharp, noting the mare already has been pre-entered for the Breeders’ Cup that will mark her first test in Grade 1 company on the grass.

“I think having a big field of 14 horses would be a big help to her,” Sharp said. “Her last two races, she made the lead and then pricked her ears and put on the brakes.”

Sharp, who has a barn at Churchill Downs, said Mom’s On Strike more than likely would move the hour west to Louisville next week and have a grass work Sunday.