Derby Hopeful Locked Breezes, Targets Fountain of Youth

Locked , one of the early favorites for the May 4 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs, breezed a half-mile in :49.68 Feb. 16 at Palm Beach Downs, his first workout since Jan. 26 for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher.

Pletcher texted that Locked "worked very well this morning" and indicated his upcoming race target is the March 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park. The Fountain of Youth is a $400,000 race over 1 1/16 miles on dirt. 

The Gun Runner   3-year-old colt, winner of last year's Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland for owners Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm, is unraced since showing in the Nov. 3 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita Park. Initially pointed to return in the Feb. 10 Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs, his 3-year-old bow was postponed.

Aron Wellman, president and founder of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, said Locked "had a minor setback a couple of weeks ago that we had to just give him a little opportunity to get better from, and he was probably OK to breeze last week, but we decided to allow patience to prevail and wait an extra week to breeze him."

"Hopefully it's full steam ahead," he added.

Jose Ortiz, who rode the colt in all four of his starts as a juvenile, was aboard for Friday's workout.

Locked worked in company with grade 1-placed older horse and stablemate Expressman . Locked was timed galloping out five furlongs in 1:01.82 and six furlongs in 1:15.54. 

"He went really good. It was a normal routine work for him in :49 and change," Ortiz said. "He had a great gallop-out, so I'm very happy with what we saw this morning."

Pletcher breezed numerous other 3-year-olds Friday morning at Palm Beach Downs who could become future stakes competitors, among them Born Noble , a recent allowance optional claiming runner-up for owners St. Elias Stable and West Point Thoroughbreds.

Elsewhere in South Florida, 2023 Remsen Stakes (G2) winner Dornoch  worked a half mile in :48.80 at Palm Meadows Training Center in preparation for the Fountain of Youth for trainer Danny Gargan.