Limousine Liberal heads to Breeders' Cup Sprint

Katherine G. Ball’s Limousine Liberal, narrowly defeated in the Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix (G2) on Oct. 7 at Keeneland, has been pre-entered in the TwinSpires Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) to be contested at Santa Anita on Nov. 5.

“He’s doing good and we were a nose away from getting a ‘Win and You’re In’ spot so we are going to roll the dice and take a shot,” trainer Ben Colebrook said Tuesday morning.

Limousine Liberal, a 4-year-old Successful Appeal gelding, was beaten a nose in the Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix (G2) here on Oct. 7 by A. P. Indian, who was winning his sixth consecutive stakes. A. P. Indian also had earned a fees-paid berth to the Sprint for winning the Priority One Jets Forego (G1) at Saratoga.

Limousine Liberal is booked on a flight to California that leaves Saturday, but Colebrook is hoping to get him on a later plane.

“I would like to leave him here as long as I can,” he said.

Limousine Liberal is based for much of the year at Keeneland, where he received his early training before he made his career debut in 2015. He now has an 11-3-8-0 record, has earned $389,020 and holds Keeneland’s 6½-furlong track record of 1:15.05. This will be his second attempt at the Breeders’ Cup Sprint after finishing unplaced in the race last year at Keeneland.

The gelding was born and raised at Donamire Farm just a few miles from Keeneland. Ball co-bred him with her husband, Mike, whose parents, Don and Mira, founded Donamire more than 30 years ago. She raced and trained Limousine Liberal’s dam, Gift of Gab.

TOM LEACH TALKS TO TRAINER MARK CASSE: Click here for Keeneland Racing Analyst Tom Leach’s interview with trainer Mark Casse about Noble Bird, being pointed at Saturday’s closing-day $200,000 Hagyard Fayette (G2). Casse also gives an update on three of his contenders in the Breeders’ Cup World Championships: Tepin (Mile-G1), La Coronel (Juvenile Fillies Turf-G1) and Valadorna (Juvenile Fillies).

With a victory in the Hagyard Fayette, Casse will earn his fourth stakes victory of Keeneland’s Fall Meet and equal a record for the most stakes wins by a trainer during any racing season at the track. His four stakes victories tie him with Racing Hall of Famers Ben Jones and D. Wayne Lukas; multiple Eclipse Award winner Todd Pletcher; and Graham Motion, who has won four stakes during the current meet.

Casse’s other stakes wins this season are the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) with Classic Empire, Dixiana Bourbon (G3) with Keep Quiet (FR) and JPMorgan Chase Jessamine (G3) with La Coronel.

Entries for the Hagyard Fayette will be taken Wednesday. Otherprobable starters and their trainers are Chocopologie (Pat Devereux Jr.), Divining Rod (Arnaud Delacour), Hawaakom (Wesley Hawley), Iron Fist (Steve Asmussen) and Kasaqui (ARG) (Ignacio Correas IV).

A LOOK AT THE LEADERS WITH FOUR DAYS REMAINING IN FALL MEET: Familiar names are atop the standings at Keeneland, which resumes racing Wednesday at 1:05 p.m. ET. The 17-day Fall Meet concludes Saturday.

Through 13 days, Julien Leparoux leads all riders with 16 victories, five more than Florent Geroux in second place. If Leparoux wins the title, he will have 11 meet titles to move into sole possession of third behind Pat Day (22) and Don Brumfield (16). He currently is tied with Steve Brooks.

Leparoux has won three stakes during the Fall Meet to push his career Keeneland total to 55. Only Day has won more stakes (95).

Tied for the top spot among trainers of the Fall Meet are Mike Maker and Mark Casse, who have eight wins apiece.

Graham Motion is in second with seven wins followed by Ian Wilkes (six), Todd Pletcher (five), Kenny McPeek (four) and Phil Sims (four).

Ken and Sarah Ramsey lead all owners with seven wins. The Ramseys, the winningest owners in Keeneland history with 212 victories, are bidding for their 18th meet title, four more than T.A. Grissom and partners, who were leading owners in the late 1950s through the early 1970s.

BREEDERS’ CUP CONTENDERS STABLED AT KEENELAND: Keeneland is home to several potential contenders during the Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Santa Anita on Nov. 4-5.

The deadline for Breeders’ Cup pre-entries was noon Pacific time Monday. Pre-entries are to be released Wednesday.

BREEDERS’ CUP SIMULCAST OFFERED AT RED MILE: The Breeders’ Cup World Championships are Nov. 4-5 at Santa Anita, and racing fans are invited to go to Red Mile to watch and wager on Thoroughbred racing’s championship event. Keeneland will not be open for simulcasting following the Oct. 29 conclusion of the Fall Meet.

On Nov. 4-5 at Red Mile, seating is first-come, first-served in Wagers Burgers & Brews and near the Finish Line Concession. No reservations will be taken for those areas.

Wagering windows will be open at 8 a.m. each day. Patrons may park free at Red Mile and come to the main simulcasting area to place wagers.

On Nov. 5, Red Mile will offer a Breeders’ Cup Buffet in the Clubhouse. Tickets are $60 per person and include a seat, buffet, nonalcoholic beverages and a program.

Doors to the Clubhouse will open at 12:30 p.m. ET. Snacks will be available during the early afternoon, and the buffet will be served from 4-8 p.m.

Tickets may be purchased at http://redmileky.com/events/breeders-cup-buffet/

THIS DAY IN KEENELAND HISTORY: OCT. 25: Keeneland’s 2016 Fall Meet, which runs through Saturday, marks the track’s 80^th anniversary. To celebrate this milestone, Barn Notes through the season is looking back at memorable races and highlights from Keeneland’s rich history.

Here are a few noteworthy moments from Oct. 25:

1958: Closing day of the 11-day Fall Meet, during which a total of 89,023 patrons wager a then-record $5,238,579.

1975: Fred W. Hooper’s Racing Hall of Famer Susan’s Girl wins the Spinster (now the Grade 1, $500,000 Juddmonte Spinster won by I’m a Chatterbox on Oct. 9) for her second consecutive win of the Fall Meet. Laffit Pincay Jr. rides the winner for trainer Tom Kelley.

UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS

Wednesday, Oct. 26

Behind-the-Scenes Racing Tour. Keeneland is giving fans a unique view of Thoroughbred racing with a two-hour guided tour that includes an insider’s look at the Jockeys Quarters where some of the sport’s leading riders prepare for their race day, a walk through the stable area, watching morning workouts and a tour of the world-famous Keeneland Sales Pavilion. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets ($25 per person).

WINS-DAY Challenge. Place a mythical $2 win and place wager on Keeneland Races 3-8. Entry fee is $10 with a guaranteed $2,500 pool. Limit three entries per person. The first 200 participants receive a free Daily Racing Form and an appetizer card from Malone’s. Visit Wagering Central to sign up.

Thursday, Oct. 27

Behind-the-Scenes Racing Tour. Keeneland is giving fans a unique view of Thoroughbred racing with a two-hour guided tour that includes an insider’s look at the Jockeys Quarters where some of the sport’s leading riders prepare for their race day, a walk through the stable area, watching morning workouts and a tour of the world-famous Keeneland Sales Pavilion. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets ($25 per person).

Official Keeneland Tour. Available Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays in October at 8:30 a.m. ET. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets ($8 per person; 12 and younger free).

4^th Annual Kentucky State Parks Foundation Day at the Races. Click here to purchase tickets for “The Works” package, which includes reserved parking, brunch, reserved Grandstand seating and a day program. Brunch begins at 11 a.m. in Keeneland’s Sales Pavilion. A silent auction also will be offered. Proceeds benefit Kentucky State Parks.

Friday, Oct. 28

Official Keeneland Tour. Available Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays in October at 8:30 a.m. ET. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets ($8 per person; 12 and younger free).

The Hill. The popular free tailgate area, available Fridays and Saturdays, is located adjacent to the Keene Barn & Entertainment Center (accessible via Gate 4) and features food trucks, a jumbo TV screen to capture all the racing and college football action, wagering facilities, The Keeneland Shop kiosk and complimentary shuttles to the track. On Saturdays, fans can enjoy live Bluegrass music from noon-4 p.m. BETologists will be available to answer fans’ questions.

Saturday, Oct. 29 – Closing Day

Sunrise Trackside Halloween Edition, sponsored by LEX18 and Dunkin’ Donuts, offers activities for people of all ages beginning at 7 a.m. ET: Breakfast With the Works, a Southern-style breakfast (until 8:30 a.m.) while horses train on the main track; children’s activities in the Kids Club Corner (7-9 a.m.); guided walking tours departing from the welcome stand near the Paddock (8-10:30 a.m.); demonstration by the Kentucky Horseshoeing School in the Paddock (9 a.m.); trackside handicapping seminar with expert handicapper Katie Gensler and Keeneland Select’s Jonathan Fowler (11:30 a.m.); and Q&A session with a jockey in the Walking Ring (12:05 p.m.).

In the morning, Buckles, the Keeneland Kids Club mascot, will award Kids Club prize packages to some of the best Halloween costumes. An appearance by the Headless Horseman will occur in the Paddock at 9 a.m. and on the track that afternoon.  

The Hill. The popular free tailgate area, available Fridays and Saturdays, is located adjacent to the Keene Barn & Entertainment Center (accessible via Gate 4) and features food trucks, a jumbo TV screen to capture all the racing and college football action, wagering facilities, The Keeneland Shop kiosk and complimentary shuttles to the track. On Saturdays, fans can enjoy live Bluegrass music from noon-4 p.m. BETologists will be available to answer fans’ questions.

$1 Pick 6 on final six races of the day.

FALL MEET LEADERS

Through Oct. 23 (13 days of racing)

Source: Keeneland Association