Limousine Liberal may try to go distance in Met Mile

ELMONT, N.Y. – Several horses entered for stakes races at Belmont Park on Friday were re-entered for stakes on Saturday, including Limousine Liberal, who is expected to try a mile for the first time in his career in the Grade 1, $1.2 million Metropolitan Handicap.

Limousine Liberal, who would likely have been favored in Friday’s Grade 2, $250,000 True North at 6 1/2 furlongs, drew post 3 in a field of 11 entered Tuesday for the Metropolitan. Javier Castellano was named to ride Limousine Liberal in the Met Mile because Jose Ortiz, who would have ridden him in the True North, is committed to ride Good Samaritan in the Metropolitan.

Limousine Liberal has run 21 times, with 8 wins and 6 seconds. He has never raced beyond seven furlongs.

Ben Colebrook, trainer of Limousine Liberal, said the mile is “something we need to try.”

“Obviously, a lot of unknowns – new racetrack, new distance … unchartered territory for sure. I do think if ever we’re going to do it, we got to do it now to see if he will handle it. Everything to me suggests he has a little more stamina.”

Mind Your Biscuits, the 122-pound highweight, drew the rail for the Met Mile, while Bolt d’Oro, a multiple Grade 1-winning 3-year-old, drew post 2.

Limousine Liberal drew post 3 and is followed in post order by McCraken, Good Samaritan, One Liner, Discreet Lover, Ransom the Moon, Warrior’s Club, Bee Jersey, and Awesome Slew.

Robert Bruce risks perfect mark

The Chilean-bred Robert Bruce made a successful North American debut when he took the Grade 3 Fort Marcy Stakes here May 5 to improve his record to 7 for 7.

Saturday, he’ll face his sternest test to date when he takes on stablemate Beach Patrol and 11 others in the Grade 1, $1 million Manhattan at 1 1/4 miles on the turf.

Robert Bruce won four Group 1’s in Chile, including one at the Manhattan distance of 1 1/4 miles. He overcame a slow pace to win the Grade 3 Fort Marcy at 1 1/16 miles.

“Robert Bruce is fit and ready off that one start, where he was really impressive,” trainer Chad Brown said. “I see a move forward in his works now heading to the Manhattan.”

Beach Patrol, last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf runner-up, was upset by Yoshida on yielding ground in the Old Forester Turf Classic at Churchill Downs. Brown said he is looking forward to getting Beach Patrol back on firm ground.

Hi Happy, Sadler’s Joy, and One Go All Go – separated by a length in the Grade 1 Man o’ War here May 12 – are back in the Manhattan.

Also entered were Alexos Komnenos, Arklow, Catcho En Die, Channel Maker, Hello Don Julio, Manitoulin, Multiplier, and Spring Quality.

Phipps field in flux

Eight fillies and mares were entered in Saturday’s Grade 1, $750,000 Ogden Phipps Stakes, including three – American Gal, Ivy Bell, and Highway Star – who were cross-entered in Friday’s Grade 3, $250,000 Bed o’ Roses Invitational.

American Gal excels at seven furlongs, but since the Phipps is at 1 1/16 miles around one turn, her connections could consider stretching her out in this spot. American Gal drew post 5 in the Phipps.

From the rail out, the Phipps field is: Unbridled Mo, Ivy Bell, Highway Star, Pacific Wind, American Gal, Abel Tasman, Unchained Melody, and Berned.

Acorn: Battle of filly titans

The Grade 1, $700,000 Acorn offers an intriguing matchup between Caledonia Road, last year’s champion 2-year-old filly, and Monomoy Girl, the Kentucky Oaks winner and clear leader of the 3-year-old filly division.

After a few early season setbacks, Caledonia Road won a one-mile allowance race here April 29 by 3 1/2 lengths. She will be reunited with Mike Smith, who was aboard for her victory in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

Monomoy Girl is 6 for 7 with a neck loss in the Golden Rod Stakes last November at Churchill Downs. In her last two starts, she has won the Grade 1 Ashland and Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks.

From the rail out, the Acorn field is: Moonshine Memories, Spectator, Monomoy Girl, Gio Game, Caledonia Road, Starcloud, and Talk Veuve to Me.

In other stakes here Saturday:

◗ Proctor’s Ledge and On Leave, the 1-2 finishers from the Churchill Downs Distaff Turf Mile, take on the Browntrained pair of A Raving Beauty and Off Limits and the Mark Casse-trained duo of Dream Dancing and La Coronel in the Grade 1, $700,000 Just a Game. A highly competitive eight-horse field was entered in the Just a Game, for fillies and mares at a mile on turf.

◗ Disco Partner and Pure Sensation, the last two winners of the race, were both entered for Saturday’s renewal of the Grade 2, $400,000 Jaipur Invitational by trainer Christophe Clement.

They’ll face Stormy Liberal, last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner, who drew the rail. Pure Sensation is in post 2 followed by Pocket Change, Conquest Tsunami, Disco Partner, Frisky Magician, Blind Ambition, and Holding Gold.

◗ Strike Power returns to sprinting in the Grade 2, $400,000 Woody Stephens at seven furlongs. Strike Power won the Grade 3 Swale at this distance before finishing second in the Fountain of Youth at 1 1/16 miles and eighth in the Grade 1 Florida Derby at 1 1/8 miles.

Strike Power drew the outside post in the field of 12.

The field from the rail: Madison’s Luna, Pure Shot, Engage, Givemeaminit, Aqua Bel Sar, Still Having Fun, Beautiful Shot, Kanthaka, Promises Fulfilled, The Tabulator, World of Trouble, and Strike Power.

◗ Hoppertunity returns to Belmont Park on Saturday for the first time since his victory in the 2016 Jockey Club Gold Cup. He is among a field of nine entered in the Grade 2, $400,000 Brooklyn Invitational at 1 1/2 miles.

He will face defending Brooklyn winner War Story as well as the Todd Pletcher-trained pair of Hard Study and Outplay. The others entered are Carlino, Take Your Guns, Mills, Backsideofthemoon, and Giant Payday.

◗ Mask (post 2) and Rugbyman (post 3) look like the major players in Saturday’s $150,000 Easy Goer Stakes for 3-yearolds. Also entered in the field of eight were Lunar Beauty, Soutache, Prince Lucky, Breaking the Rules, Dark Vader, and High North.