Journalists Wandering Eyes Posted October 7, 2023 Journalists Posted October 7, 2023 Locked (c, 2, Gun Runner–Luna Rosa, by Malibu Moon), a flashy Saratoga maiden winner at second asking Sept. 1, showed his class as the 3-5 favorite while overcoming a wide trip in Saturday's 'Win and You're In' GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity S. at Keeneland. Drawn widest of all in post eight, the chestnut didn't get off to the sharpest of beginnings and raced three wide around the clubhouse turn. He was out in the clear and one from the back through fractions of :24.47 and :48.23. Under a ride by Jose Ortiz on the far turn, he made a flashy, five-wide sweep to hit the front at the top of the short stretch. Locked looked well on his way to a runaway win, but the three-for-three The Wine Steward (Vino Rosso) wasn't going out without a fight. The Wine Steward fought on gamely along the rail down the stretch, but Locked proved too much and forged clear late to win by 3/4 of a length. Generous Tipper (Street Sense) was third. Locked was featured in Steve Sherack's Second Chances series after rallying smartly from last after some trouble at the start to finish a very promising third sprinting on debut at Saratoga Aug. 5. He romped by 7 1/4 lengths to earn his diploma in 'Rising Star' fashion out of Saratoga's one-mile Wilson Chute Sept. 1. The distant runner-up that day Drum Roll Please (Hard Spun) returned to break his maiden at Aqueduct on Friday. “He's a colt that we always felt like the further, the better,” winning trainer Todd Pletcher said. “He kind of got a little bit of two-turn experience in that sort-of two-turn mile race at Saratoga (his maiden win Sept. 1), which is always a difficult race. But I thought he was super-impressive at Saratoga, and he's just been a colt that's done everything right since Day 1.” Pletcher added, “You like to think it moves them forward. He was hung out very wide on both turns. He didn't have a real easy trip, but he's talented enough to overcome it.” Pedigree Notes: Locked, a $425,000 Keeneland September graduate, becomes the seventh Grade I winner for leading young sire Gun Runner. Malibu Moon is now the broodmare sire of nine winners at the top level. Locked was produced by a winning half-sister to MGISW Gabby's Golden Gal (Medaglia d'Oro) and MGSW & GISP Always a Princess (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}). The Gun Runner/Malibu Moon cross is already responsible for GSWs Shotgun Hottie and Runninsonofagun. Locked is also bred similarly to MGISW and 'TDN Rising Star' Taiba (Gun Runner), who is out of a Flatter mare. Locked's dam produced a colt by Caravaggio in 2022 and a filly by Tiz the Law this year. She was bred back to Early Voting. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-1. O-Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners & Walmac Farm; B-Rosa Colasanti (Ky); T-Todd A. Pletcher. @EclipseTBP has they key to @keeneland as #9 LOCKED ($3.52) rallies to win the $600,000 GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity! The colt by @Three_Chimneys's Gun Runner was ridden by @ljlmvel for trainer @PletcherRacing and co-owners @EclipseTBP and @WalmacLLC. pic.twitter.com/16pSjqqzrp — TVG (@TVG) October 7, 2023 The post Gun Runner’s ‘Rising Star’ Locked Overcomes Wide Journey in Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions. View the full article Quote
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