Possible BC Sprint candidate Limousine Liberal fires Keeneland bullet
Katherine Ball’s homebred Limousine Liberal blitzed a bullet five furlongs in :59.40 over a fast track Thursday morning, his first work since finishing second to A. P. Indian in Keeneland’s Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix (G2) on Oct. 7.
Working after the renovation break with jockey Jose Ortiz aboard, Limousine Liberal posted fractions of :13.20, :24.40, :36.20 and :59.40 with a six-furlong gallop out in 1:10.80 and seven-eighths in 1:24.60. The move was the fastest of 14 at the distance.
“We called an audible and worked today to beat the rain,” trainer Ben Colebrook said of the decision to move the work up a day to beat a steady rain that was forecast to begin Thursday afternoon and last until Friday morning.
So now the question is whether Limousine Liberal will ship to Santa Anita for the $1.5 million Breeders’ Cup TwinSpires Sprint (G1) on Nov. 5. He finished 11th in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Keeneland last year. That race marked the only time in seven starts at the six-furlong distance that Limousine Liberal has not finished first or second.
“There’s no decision yet,” Ball said about racing in the Breeders’ Cup. “He will tell us. I thought he breezed great.”
The deadline for Breeders’ Cup pre-entries is noon Pacific time on Monday.
OAKLEY GIRL GIVES WALSH QUICK RETURN ON INVESTMENT
On Sept. 15 at Kentucky Downs in the Ladies Marathon at 1 5/16 miles, trainer Brendan Walsh got his first look at recent purchase Oakley Girl (GB) in action under race conditions.
The 4-year-old closed from last in the field of 10 to finish third, beaten two lengths by Al’s Gal, who went on to win last Sunday’s E.P. Taylor (G1) at Woodbine.
“Absolutely,” Walsh said when asked if he thought his acquisition of Oakley Girl represented money well spent. “She closed a lot of ground on a very firm course, and I think she would like a bit of dig in (softer) ground.”
Oakley Girl figures to get that Sunday when she goes postward in the 25th running of the $125,000 Rood & Riddle Dowager (G3) at 1½ miles.
“I got her three weeks before she ran at Kentucky Downs,” Walsh said. “I have a friend in Ireland who spotted her, and I am always on the lookout for something. She’s got a good pedigree.”
By Vodafone Epsom Derby (G1) winner Sir Percy, Oakley Girl is from the family of three-time European champion stayer Kahf Tara and Irish highweight and Group 1 winner Necklace (GB), third in the 2004 Beverly D. (G1).
Source: Keeneland Association