Limousine Liberal stays home for Aristides

Following a 13-1 upset-victory in the Churchill Downs Stakes (Grade II) on Kentucky Derby Day, Limousine Liberal will tackle Saturday’s $100,000 Aristides (GIII) as the 9-5 morning line favorite.

“We decided it was simple enough to keep him home for the Aristides,” trainer Ben Colebrook said.

The 5-year-old gelded son of Successful Appeal ran in the last two renewals of the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI) but the Churchill Downs Stakes was his first graded stakes victory.

“It’s great he’s finally a graded stakes winner,” Colebrook said. “This horse shows up every time he runs.”

Limousine Liberal was the heavy favorite in last year’s Aristides but was narrowly defeated by Alsvid.

The six-furlong Aristides, which is named in honor of the inaugural Kentucky Derby winner of 1875, is one of two stakes events on Saturday’s 11-race program. Churchill Downs’ first race is 12:45 p.m. (all times Eastern). The Aristides goes as Race 10 at approximately 5:21 p.m. and the second running of the $65,000-added Mighty Beau Overnight Stakes, a five-furlong sprint on the Matt Winn Turf Course, is the ninth race at approximately 4:51 p.m.

The complete Aristides field from the rail out (with jockeys and morning line odds): Wabel (Ricardo Santana Jr., 15-1), Abbaa (Carlos Marquez Jr., 20-1), Union Jackson (Florent Geroux, 3-1), Wilbo (Albin Jimenez, 5-1), Recount (Chris Landeros, 5-1), The Truth Or Else (Channing Hill, 4-1), Schivarelli (Brian Hernandez Jr., 15-1) and Limousine Liberal (Corey Lanerie, 9-5). 

Limousine Liberal will carry 124 pounds, while all others will tote 120.

 

TOMLINSON CONFIDENT PRIOR TO $65,000-ADDED MIGHTY BEAU – Trainer Mike Tomlinson has two horses entered in Saturday’s $65,000-added Mighty Beau but is excited for the comeback of Platinum Prince.

“We still haven’t decided if we’ll run Forgive,” Tomlinson said. “We’re definitely planning on running Platinum Prince who’s been doing very well training.”

Patricia’s Hope LLC’s Platinum Prince, listed at 6-1 on the morning line, has not been seen since finishing eighth on Jan. 28 in the Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint.

“We were way too close to an extremely-fast pace that day,” Tomlinson said. “I don’t think anyone in Saturday’s field has enough pace to run with (trainer Greg) Foley’s horse (Latent Revenge) but we’ll hopefully be tracking right off the pace.

“We gave him some time off after his last race, mainly because of how hard he ran early in the race. With a better trip I think we have a great chance.”

Platinum Prince has a career record of 14-3-2-0 with $123,120 in earnings. The 5-year-old gelded son of Leroidesanimaux was a $50,000 claim by Tomlinson in late 2016.

The Mighty Beau is carded as Race 9 at approximately 4:51 p.m. (all times Eastern). The five-furlong turf dash is the first of two stakes events on Saturday’s program at Churchill Downs. The $100,000 Aristides (GIII) will complete the stakes action as Race 10 at approximately 5:21 p.m.

The complete Mighty Beau field from the rail out (with jockeys and morning line odds): Expected Ruler (Didiel Osorio, 15-1), Forgive (Joe Rocco Jr., 6-1), Latent Revenge (James Graham, 3-1), Platinum Prince (Florent Geroux, 6-1), Grand Candy (Ricardo Santana Jr., 5-1), Vici (Brian Hernandez Jr., 12-1), A Fashion Affair (Jack Gilligan, 50-1), Partly Mocha (Corey Lanerie, 6-1), Rivers Run Deep (Albin Jimenez, 4-1), and Mayor Mac (Miguel Mena, 10-1).

 

WORK TAB – There were 91 horses on the Friday work tab at Churchill Downs which included Classic Empire’s half-mile breeze in :50 for trainer Mark Casse. Other half-mile breezes from Casse’s stable included Churchill Downs Stakes (GII) runner-up Awesome Slew, :47; Twin Spires Turf Sprint (GIII) sixth-place finisher Holding Gold, :51; impressive 2-year-old maiden winner Mo Diddley, :47.60; Eight Belles fifth-place finisher Pretty City Dancer, :48.40; Kentucky Oaks (GI) fifth-place finisher Salty, :48.40; and multiple graded stakes winner World Approval, :48.20. Casse breezed Edgewood (GIII) winner La Coronel five furlongs in :59.60. The 3-year-old daughter of Colonel John is scheduled to run in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. 

 

DOWN THE STRETCH – There is a $10,337 jackpot carryover for the 20-cent minimum Single-6 Jackpot on Races 4-9 Friday. … Sunday’s 10-race card features the year’s first Family Adventure Day Presented by Kroger. The day of racing is complimented by plenty of family activities in the Plaza area including pony rides, inflatables, a petting zoo, stick horse races, face painting and more. There also will be a special “meet and greet” with popular “Trolls,” Poppy and Branch.