Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm's Locked capped a short but impressive sophomore campaign for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher with a 1 1/2-length score in the Cigar Mile Handicap (G2) Dec. 7 at Aqueduct Racetrack.
In victory, Locked made it a perfect 2-for-2 in a campaign that was abbreviated due to injury in the early part of the year. He made up for lost time with two robust victories at the Big A this fall, scoring by 7 1/2 lengths against elders in a seven-furlong allowance sprint in his first effort back in October, and following with his rallying coup of the Cigar Mile over grade 1-winner Mullikin.
"He's doing excellent and came out of the race in great order," Pletcher said. "He's always been a highly talented colt. Physically, he's made a nice progression from 2 to 3. He's got all the physical attributes, and what's great about him is he's also got a super mind to go along with all the talent."
In the Cigar Mile, Locked, winner of last year's Breeders' Futurity (G1), faced three other top-level winners and four millionaires, getting the best of his nine rivals after stalking the pace in sixth under Hall of Famer John Velazquez. He steadily improved position to be within one length of the prominent Mullikin as he took over from tiring pacesetting Pipeline at the top of the lane.
Mullikin drove home strongly under Flavien Prat but Locked closed strongly in the six path to overtake his foe in the final sixteenth and draw off to stop the clock in 1:34.52.
Pletcher praised Locked's adaptability as he has posted strong victories in prominent and stalking fashion.
"Super happy with his effort," Pletcher said. "He's a little more tactical as a 3-year-old and hopefully that will continue, and he'll appreciate added distance. We were pleased with his allowance race, so that gave us confidence to run him back at a one-turn mile. He showed his versatility coming from off the pace and put in a good, sustained closing run against a really good 4-year-old. For him to be able to do that in his second start of the year against older horses—it was a great race and one of the stronger Cigar Mile fields we have seen in a while. A great result."
Pletcher said the Gun Runner chestnut will head south to Palm Beach Downs Tuesday as the connections make a decision on where the talented chestnut will race next. Potential targets include the Pegasus World Cup (G1) Jan. 25 at Gulfstream Park, and group 1 events in the Middle East in the Saudi Cup (G1) and Dubai World Cup (G1).
"He'll leave Belmont on Tuesday and arrive at Palm Beach Downs on Wednesday morning," Pletcher said. "I've got to talk to Aron [Wellman of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners] and come up with a firm game plan. We've certainly talked about the Pegasus being the likely next goal, but we'll have to have a discussion about Saudi and Dubai and if we're interested in those. For the moment, we'll enjoy this win and get him down to Palm Beach Downs and firm up a game plan then."
In victory, Pletcher secured a record-extending seventh Cigar Mile win, while Velazquez equaled Hall of Famer Jerry Bailey's jockey record of five. Velazquez has won the past three Cigar Miles after taking the 2022 edition with the Pletcher-trained Mind Control and repeating last year with the Dallas Stewart-trained Hoist the Gold.
Pletcher spoke of the success he and his fellow Hall of Famer have had together in three collaborative Cigar Mile wins and in other recent marquee races with champion 2-Year-Old Colt Fierceness and dual champion Malathaat.
"It's been a terrific, mutually beneficial relationship for a long, long time, and it's a real credit to Johnny's ability to continue to ride at the highest level for so many years," Pletcher reflected. "He seems to be riding as well or even better as ever and gave Locked the perfect trip yesterday—knew when to pedal and knew when to settle a little. We always have a ton of confidence when he have Johnny on board. That was a fun win for all of us."
Pletcher's successful Saturday at the Big A also included a breakthrough victory by KimDon Racing's Tizzy in the Sky, who made the grade in the one-mile, $200,000 Go for Wand (G3) off a six-month layoff.
The 5-year-old daughter of Sky Kingdom rated in second 1 1/2 lengths off the pace set by Rachel's Rock and took command through the turn under Prat. The favored Occult came storming down the center of the course with Movie Moxy following suit to threaten the new leader, but Tizzy in the Sky dug in gamely to fend off her challengers by a half-length.
"She came back well and that was a great win for her to get that graded stakes win," Pletcher said. "I thought it was a gutsy effort on her part considering it was a pretty solid pace. It looked like they were closing in on her, but she kept finding more to hold everyone off."
Cox Undecided on Muhimma's next start
Dual Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox showed off another strong juvenile filly to his arsenal Saturday when Shadwell Stable's Muhimma remained undefeated with a one-length triumph in the $250,000 Demoiselle Stakes (G2) for juvenile fillies at 1 1/8 miles at Aqueduct Racetrack.
In victory, the daughter of Munnings secured the maximum allotment of the 10-5-3-2-1 Kentucky Oaks (G1) qualifying points awarded to the top-five finishers. Cox said the filly's successful first foray around two turns could mean a bright future in next year's top grade 1 events for fillies and mares.
"We learned a lot yesterday and it gives you confidence," Cox said. "She can handle two turns and the distance, and the mile and an eighth is obviously the Kentucky Oaks, the CCA Oaks, the Breeders' Cup Distaff... stuff like that. It's a lot, but we think she's very special and it was good to see her handle the distance."
Muhimma entered with a perfect 2-for-2 record after dominant open-lengths sprint victories with pace-pressing trips in September and November at Churchill Downs. In the Demoiselle, she led at each point of call under regular pilot Florent Geroux and gamely turned back the oncoming Ballerina d'Oro to win in a final time of 1:49.84.
Cox said he was pleased with Muhimma Sunday morning at his Belmont Park barn.
"She looks great. We'll send her south and I'm not sure when," Cox said. "We'll back off her for a little bit and then get her back [training]. Not sure where we're going with her yet."
Muhimma joins multiple grade 1-winner and Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) champ Immersive, grade 2-winner Good Cheer, graded stakes-placed Eclatant and listed stakes-winner Stunner as top contenders in this division for Cox, who said Muhimma has stamped herself as an elite prospect.
"Right now, she's top-three," Cox said, with a laugh. "She's good. Very good."
Poster successful in stakes debut
Godolphin's Kentucky homebred Poster earned strong speed figures for his narrow nose victory over Aviator Gui in Saturday's $250,000 Remsen Stakes (G2), a 1 1/8-mile route for 2-year-olds at Aqueduct.
In victory, the Eoin Harty trainee secured 10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points, matching the points tally earned one week earlier by stablemate and fellow Godolphin Kentucky homebred First Resort in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) at Churchill.
Poster, with record-setting jockey Flavien Prat aboard, rated off the pace in the early running before making a bold move through the turn and opening up a two-length advantage at the stretch call. He stayed on strong to the wire to turn back the lugging-in Aviator Gui by a nose and stop the clock in a final time of 1:50.37.
"I thought it was a good effort. He ran extremely well. He handled the distance, and he handled the track - he took a lot of dirt, and took that in stride," Harty said. "When he hit the front, it looked like he was looking around a bit, but he kept to his task. It was a learning experience. He's young and immature, but it's hopefully a stepping stone to bigger and better things."
The winning effort also provided Prat with his 80th stakes win of the year, surpassing Irad Ortiz, Jr.'s single-season record set in 2022. Prat is now at 55 graded stakes wins, equaling Jerry Bailey's 2003 record.
Harty credited Prat with pushing the button on the winning early move.
"That's what jocks do when they're riding at the top of their game," Harty said.
Poster made his dirt debut in the Remsen following a pair of one-mile wins on turf, graduating in August at Ellis Park and following with an allowance score in October at Keeneland that garnered a 69 Beyer.
"The route wasn't going to be a problem. He's a big horse and he's never run at any distance shorter than a mile. I had no reservations about the distance," Harty said. "The dirt is always a question and, at some point, you need to find out if they can handle it or not and yesterday was the day.
"He's improved with every race," added Harty. "It's nice to know he doesn't have a preferred surface. But at this time, at this juncture of his career, I can't see him running on turf any time soon."
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
