Lockdown scores stakes debut, Kentucky Oaks points, in Busanda

Jan 16, 2017 Jennifer Caldwell/Brisnet.com

Juddmonte Farms’ homebred Lockdown not only triumphed in her stakes debut on Sunday but also debuted on the Kentucky Oaks Leaderboard with 10 points thanks to that effort.

The Bill Mott-trained Lockdown marked her first try against stakes rivals in the $98,000 Busanda Stakes, which is part of the Road to the Kentucky Oaks series of points races, and proved best over 3-5 favorite Libby’s Tail by 2 1/2 lengths.

The First Defence filly was ridden by Kendrick Carmouche, who guided her to finish a mile and 70 yards in 1:44.75 over Aqueduct’s fast inner dirt. Lockdown improved her record to read 3-2-1-0 with the win and boosted her career earnings to $108,000.

The Kentucky-bred bay also took home 10 points, good for the 11th spot on the Kentucky Oaks Leaderboard.

Libby’s Tail added four points to her previous total of five, which came about thanks to a head runner-up effort in the Frizette Stakes (G1) and a fourth-place finish in the Demoiselle Stakes (G2) in her past two. She was the only runner with prior stakes experience in the Busanda and now sits in 12th on the Leaderboard.

No Sweat took home two points for running third in the Busanda, while Frank’s Folly earned one point. They now show up in 27th and 35th on the Leaderboard, respectively.

Lockdown is out of the winning Storm Cat mare Rising Tornado, making her a full sister to 2014 champion older female Close Hatches. Her fourth dam is blue-hen mare and Broodmare of the Year Best in Show.

BUSANDA QUOTES

LeAnna Willaford, assistant trainer Lockdown, winner

'The plan coming in was to have her in stalking position and take it to them when the time came. Thankfully, everything worked as planned. She's been training real well, and I have to think eventually she'll end up in Florida. We'll see where she goes from there after talking to the Juddmonte people.'

Kendrick Carmouche, jockey Lockdown, winner

'With the way Bill Mott trains horses, he can get her to make the distance. She has such a long stride, you just have to time her run and let her get into her stride and she'll take you home from there.

'I just put pressure on the gate to the wire and I had to move around the turn to make sure I held her steady.

'Hopefully the team stays together and I get to stay on her.'