Limousine Liberal's career 'cut a little bit short' due to injury

Multiple stakes winner Limousine Liberal has retired from racing after fracturing a bone in his front ankle during a Wednesday gallop at Keeneland, trainer Ben Colebrook said.

The 7-year-old gelding was preparing for the Churchill Downs Stakes (G1) on Saturday’s Kentucky Derby undercard.

“He suffered a fractured sesamoid, so that will be it for his racing career,” Colebrook said.

After breaking his maiden under the Twin Spires in 2015, the son of Successful Appeal went on to win eight more races in 27 career starts, including back-to-back Churchill Downs Stakes victories in 2017 and 2018.

“To be honest, he was training better than ever,” Colebrook said. “I thought we had a good shot at winning that race for a third year in a row, but it just didn’t work out. The main thing is that he’s going to be OK, hopefully. That’s the most important thing here now (is) that he gets through this.”

The recovery process for the career $1.8 million earner is now the top priority for Colebrook who, as of Thursday morning, was with his horse at the clinic.

“He’s doing good. He’s been a good patient,” the trainer said. “Everything looks good at this point.”

Limousine Liberal figures to retire to the farm owned by Katherine and Mike Ball, who campaigned the multiple graded stakes winner.

“He had a long career, and we had a lot good times with him," Colebook said. "It was just cut a little bit short.”