Locked regains winning form in Woodward Stakes
By: Dave Grening DRF
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – When Locked romped to an 8 1/2-length victory in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap in March, it was not a stretch to think he could be the best older dirt male horse in training.
Two subpar efforts later, Locked was an enigma coming into Saturday’s Grade 2, $300,000 Woodward Stakes at Aqueduct. Though he faced only two rivals, Locked may have put himself back in the mix for a Breeders’ Cup start as he ran down the pace-advantaged Phileas Fogg to win the Woodward by three-quarters of a length. It was 3 1/2 lengths back to Post Time.
The Woodward field lost four of its entrants as Willy D’s scratched to run in Saturday’s $500,000 Lukas Classic, while Awesome Aaron, Film Star and Gould’s Gold scratched to run in Sunday’s $200,000 Battery Park Stakes at Delaware Park.
Locked gave trainer Todd Pletcher a record sixth victory in the Woodward. It may have also given him a fourth starter for the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 1 at Del Mar. Pletcher also trains Fierceness, Mindframe and Antiquarian.
Locked is owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm and will stand stud at Gainesway Farm when he is done racing. Eclipse also owns the three-time Grade 1-winning 3-year-old Journalism, who is pointing to the Classic. There is also the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile for Locked, should his connections choose that route.
“I really hope he cooperates to the point where we sit down with Walmac and Gainesway and have the discussion whether we go in the Classic,” said Aron Wellman, president of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners. “He’s proven he can be brilliant at a mile. I want to enjoy this very gratifying and important win and hopefully have the privilege of having that discussion.”
Locked won the Grade 2 Cigar Mile last fall. It was the second of what would be four consecutive fast races that he ran. Those efforts may have taken a toll on him, which could explain why he ran below par in the Grade 2 Alysheba, won by Fierceness in a track-record time. Pletcher felt the track worked against Locked when he was third to Phileas Fogg in the Suburban on July 4.
Pletcher felt Locked was rounding back into form in the 12 weeks between the Suburban and the Woodward. However, with the scratches, it looked like the pace was going to work against Locked in the Woodward.
As expected, Phileas Fogg, under Kendrick Carmouche, opened an early 2 1/2-length lead through a modest half-mile in 48.69 seconds. Carmouche kept Phileas Fogg several paths off the fence, while John Velazquez kept Locked to his inside, avoiding any kickback.
Velazquez stayed inside and followed Carmouche and Phileas Fogg, waiting for him to move to the rail before taking Locked off the fence. That occurred inside the eighth pole. When Carmouche went inside, Velazquez went outside and he was able to rally on by Phileas Fogg in the final yards.
“[Carmouche] rode a really good race because he waited until past the three-sixteenths pole to the eighth pole to see me and come in,” Velazquez said. “Once I got out, I was close enough that I was going to be there and my horse responded right away.”
Locked, a 4-year-old son of Gun Runner, covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.11 (98 Beyer Speed Figure) and returned $4.46 to win.
“It’s just a huge testament to Todd and his team for being able to resuscitate him at this point in his career to get back on top,” Wellman said. “To see him finish off the race so brilliantly was just so awesome. Credit to Todd, Johnny just a masterful race and of course, the horse gets the most credit.”