Locked has measure of The Wine Steward in Breeders’ Futurity

Locked was one of the most sensational maiden winners of the summer at Sarataga, where he forced the pace before taking command and drawing off by 7 1/4 lengths. The Gun Runner colt had to find an entirely different path to victory, however, in his stakes debut in the Breeders’ Futurity.

Breaking from the far outside post 8, Locked was hung out wide on the clubhouse turn as a few rivals sparred for the early lead. Regular rider Jose Ortiz had to let him find his comfort zone toward the back of the pack.

Meanwhile, The Wine Steward was working out a more advantageous passage as a ground-saving stalker. Nestled just a couple of lengths behind the battling pace factors Just Steel and Baytown Chatterbox, The Wine Steward was in the right spot to get the jump on the closers. The Mike Maker pupil split rivals to pounce, then cut the corner entering the stretch.

But Locked, who was rolling up widest of all on the far turn, immediately accosted The Wine Steward. The two appeared to brush, Locked briefly lost focus, and The Wine Steward took advantage to counterpunch. As soon as Locked got reorganized, though, the 0.76-1 favorite re-asserted by a half-length. 

By negotiating 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.06, Locked capped a big weekend for connections. His Eclipse-owned stablemate, Candied, won the companion Alcibiades (G1) for two-year-old fillies Friday. And sire Gun Runner was also responsible for Saturday’s Chandelier (G2) heroine Chatalas. 

The Wine Steward was an excellent second by 3 3/4 lengths in his two-turn debut, picking up five Derby points. Generous Tipper rallied from last to take third (three points), edging fellow Ken McPeek runner Northern Flame (two points). Fifth-placer West Saratoga, who won the Iroquois (G3) as the initial scoring race, added another point to his column for a total of 11. 

Just Steel tired to sixth, followed by the disappointing Awesome Road and Baytown Chatterbox. Timberlake was scratched in favor of the Champagne (G1) – a sharp decision, since the Brad Cox juvenile won decisively at Aqueduct.

Locked’s resume now reads 3-2-0-1, $428,400. The chestnut lost his first start at Saratoga, but his third-place effort was commendable, considering his early trouble in a six-furlong maiden that was too short for him. He’s won both outings since stepping up in distance to a mile or beyond. At Keeneland, Locked had the satisfaction of turning the tables on the horse who won that first maiden – Just Steel. 

Bred by Rosa Colasanti in Kentucky and purchased for $425,000 as a Keeneland September yearling, Locked is out of the Malibu Moon mare Luna Rosa. His dam is a half-sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Gabby’s Golden Gal and multiple Grade 2 vixen Always a Princess.

The Just Steel/Locked maiden race has produced another graded stakes performer. Pletcher’s Be You, who just missed as the favorite in that Spa event, went on to finish fourth in the Hopeful (G1). Stretching out to 1 1/16 miles in Saturday’s American Pharoah (G1) at Santa Anita, Be You placed third to join the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with three points.

The American Pharoah was dominated by 2-5 favorite Muth, who swept from just off the pace to overwhelm front-running stablemate Wine Me Up by 3 3/4 lengths. The top two are ineligible for Derby points because they are trained by Bob Baffert, who is suspended by Churchill Downs Inc.

Raging Torrent prompted the pace before retreating to fourth, good for two points, and Rothschild received one point for crossing the wire fifth. Next came Indispensable; the unlucky Next Level, who effectively lost his chance when doing a split and a nosedive out of the gate; and El Magnifico.

Bought for a sales-topping $2 million by Zedan Racing Stables at OBS March, Muth is a son of Good Magic and the Uncle Mo mare Hoppa. The bay boasts a 3-2-1-0 mark with $256,600 in earnings. His only loss was a second in the Best Pal (G3) to stablemate Prince of Monaco, and their intramural rivalry is expected to carray over into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.