LOUISVILLE, Kentucky – Limousine Liberal’s love affair with Churchill Downs still burns hot.

Winner of the 2017 Churchill Downs Stakes, Limousine Liberal returned for a repeat performance Saturday, edging Warrior’s Club and Awesome Slew to once again win the Grade 2, $500,000 Churchill Downs.

A homebred 6-year-old gelding owned by Katherine Ball and trained by Ben Colebrook, Limousine Liberal now has a record of 6-1-0 from eight starts on the Churchill main track. At other venues he’s 2-5-3 from 13 starts.

Favored Imperial Hint made the front after breaking alertly from post 3 and set a fast pace, 22.10 and 44.57, with Unbridled Outlaw, Chief Cicatriz and Limousine Liberal stalking. Meanwhile, Awesome Slew, with no horses on his outside in post 10, broke outward and awkwardly, and was steered to the fence to race in last place down the backstretch of the seven-furlong Churchill Downs. Awesome Slew made good progress up the fence, swung out for the drive, and as Imperial Hint faded from contention at the eighth pole, Awesome Slew grabbed the lead, apparently on the way to victory.

But Limousine Liberal refused to be denied. Under vigorous left-handed urging from jockey Jose Ortiz, a four-wide Limousine Liberal held fast as Awesome Slew came past on the outside, got back on even terms 50 yardd before the wire, and pushed past to win by a neck. Warrior’s Club also was part of the final-furlong skirmish and came outside Awesome Slew to nip him for second.  

Winning time for seven furlongs on a sloppy track was 1:22.73 and Limousine Liberal paid $10.80 to win. Limousine Liberal is by Successful Appeal and was produced by the In Excess mare, Gift of Gab. His record now is a perfect three for three on wet tracks.