Locked Unlocks Breeders' Cup Ticket With Woodward Win
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Susie Raisher
Locked wins the Woodward Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack
While he only beat two rivals, Locked did enough in the $261,000 Woodward Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack to earn a trip to the Breeders' Cup at Del Mar.
For which race?
That will be determined at a later date but a return to top form with a three-quarter-length victory Sept. 27 in the mile-and-an-eighth Woodward was enough for the connections and trainer Todd Pletcher to discuss travel plans for either the $7 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at a mile and a quarter or the $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1), both Nov. 1.
"It earned him a trip to California," said Aron Wellman, president and founder of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, which owns the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) winner along with Walmac Farm. "It puts him under consideration for the Breeders' Cup Classic for sure. He's proven to be brilliant at a mile and a quarter. But he is also a major winner at a mile, too (the 2024 Cigar Mile Handicap). I think the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile is a race we have to take a hard look at. It's a testament to Todd and the horse to be having this discussion."
The Woodward marked the end of a two-race slump that saw the 4-year-old son of Gun Runner finish third in the Suburban Stakes (G2) and fourth in the Alysheba Stakes (G2). That followed a sensational four-race stretch that featured wins in the 1 1/4-mile Big 'Cap (by 8 1/2 lengths), the Cigar Mile Handicap (G2), and an allowance optional claimer; and a second in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1).
"He's one of the top handicap horses when he's on his game. He showed the effects of a brilliant four-race campaign. It took him a little while to get back to his best and we saw it today," Wellman said. "The job Todd has done to resuscitate this horse and turn in this performance speaks to Todd's brilliance."
A grade 1 winner at 2, the challenge for Locked was stepped up when four of the seven entrants scratched out of the Woodward to run elsewhere. That left Phileas Fogg and Post Time as the competition and Phileas Fogg, the Suburban winner, was a dangerous loose-on-the lead factor.
After a disastrous showing in the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1) when he veered in after the start and caused crowding that led to jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. falling off Mindframe , Phileas Fogg and jockey Kendrick Carmouche broke quickly from the outside post and remained well off the rail around the first turn.
Jupiter Stable's Phileas Fogg, the 4-5 favorite, led by about two lengths over Locked and John Velazquez through fractions of :48.69 and 1:12.03 and turned for home with a clear lead. But when the son of Astern angled to the rail, Velazquez brought Locked ($4.46) outside of him and motored past in the final furlong to win in 1:48.11 for the 1 1/8 miles on a fast main track.
"He had to overcome a lot," Wellman said. "When the field scratched down to three horses it made Phileas Fogg really dangerous on the lead. He did everything he could to shut the door on Johnny but Johnny had the key. Johnny is the master. He's the GOAT for a reason."
Phileas Fogg took second by 3 1/2 lengths over Post Time.
The victory was the sixth in 11 starts for Locked, who was bred by Rosa Colasanti out of the Malibu Moon mare Luna Rosa. He was bought for $425,000 at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale out of the Eaton Sales consignment and has earned $1,911,825.