Locked Looms Large in Woodward, ‘Win and You’re In’ Weekend at Santa Anita Kicks Off Saturday

[Wandering Eyes]

Multiple Grade I-winner Locked (Gun Runner) looms the big favorite in the scratch-decimated GII Woodward Stakes on Saturday at the Belmont Big A meet, but is far from the only marquee name this upcoming weekend across the country.

One of three confirmed runners for Saturday's co-feature in New York, Locked comes into the race with a two-race skid to break after he missed the board May 2 in the GII Alysheba Stakes when returning to the races after a tour de force effort in the GI Santa Anita Handicap Mar. 1 in California. His most recent effort was an even third July 4 in the GII Suburban Stakes–won narrowly by Phileas Fogg (Astern {Aus}) by the smallest of margins over Antiquarian (Preservationist). That pair would later return for the controversial GI Jockey Club Gold Cup that left Mindframe (Constitution) without a rider and Irad Ortiz Jr. sent to the hospital. Antiquarian won the race while Phileas Fogg was disqualified to unplaced. Ortiz Jr. was later cleared after miraculously avoiding major injuries.

For Locked's connections, the space between the Suburban and Woodward was an intentional choice as they conceded that his earlier exploits leading up to the Big Cap may've caught up to their stable star this past spring.

“He just didn't have that 'oomph' that we know he's capable of in the Suburban,” said Eclipse Thoroughbreds's Aron Wellman. “He was inside and closer to the pace than usual, which might not have been to his liking, but no excuses. He just wasn't the Locked that we know can be so brilliant. We really decided to hit the reboot button, and the last month he's been training like the 'A' version of Locked, which is highly encouraging. He's run very well at Aqueduct in the past, the Woodward is a historic race, and we're very much looking forward to getting him back on top.”

The morning line favors the chestnut to the tune of 9-5 odds and he'll have the services of Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez, who rode the colt to two victories over this track and a second in the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational.

Post Time (Frosted) enters this contest off the back of his annual masterclass in the Polynesian Stakes, where he won by 17 lengths. His sixth in the GI Whitney Stakes two back Aug. 2 was the first time in his 19-race career that the grey had ever been off the board. He's been a frequent face at the highest levels and a tough customer no matter where he travels, so it looks to be no different here with only two other horses around him in the gate.

Phileas Fogg looks for redemption after his disqualification last out, and will be looking to claim his second graded victory since being claimed for $62,500 last summer at Saratoga.

Europeans Invade New York for Joe Hirsch

Rebel's Romance | Megan Coggin

The globetrotting titans meet the local giants as Europeans and top U.S. turf routers alike descend on New York for the GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes to make for a busy day at the Belmont Big A meet. Chief among those is multiple Group/Grade I winner Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who's enjoying another strong year in his sixth season on the track with four victories. He was last seen in Germany taking top prize in the G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin by three-quarters of a length and closed well into less than ideal conditions at Ascot July 26 to finish third in the G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes. The prospect of soft turf kept Rebel's Romance from attempting a title defense Sunday in Germany's G1 Preis von Europa and brought the stable star to American instead. The morning line has the two-time GI Breeders' Cup Turf victor at even-money and he'll likely be lower by the time the gates open.

“He's had a really solid year,” said Chris Connett, traveling assistant for Charlie Appleby. “He stepped up to a mile and six [furlongs] and won the Yorkshire Cup and then he ran back in the Hardwicke at Royal Ascot and won there as well before a pretty gutsy run in the King George when the race wasn't really ran to suit him. He bounced back with a win in Germany, so he's just as good as ever really.”

To that anticipated favorite's inside is stablemate El Cordobes (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), whose first trip to the States last out resulted in a half-length overhaul of Rebel Red (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the GI Sword Dancer Stakes to mark his first elite-level victory. He garnered a 105 Beyer figure there, and picks up Hall of Famer John Velazquez for this trip. The morning line has this son of Frankel sitting at 3-1 odds.

“El Cordobes has led in his races before but has also been dropped in like he did in the Sword Dancer. Rebel's Romance is fairly uncomplicated, as well – he jumps out and has a big old stride on him and if they're going too slow, he can go on; and if they're going quick enough, he can take a sit.”

While the Europeans will take heavy action, the locals will have something to say in the matter as 'TDN Rising Star' MGISW Far Bridge (English Channel) looks to pick up his fourth victory on the year and player spoiler against tough company. While he weakened to sixth last out Aug. 9 in the Sword Dancer, he has produced a 101 Beyer-worthy victory two back July 12 in the GII Bowling Green Stakes. That still puts him almost four points lower than El Cordobes and three below Rebel Red, but Far Bridges has shown a similar pattern of occasionally throwing a clunker before bouncing back to form, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see that repeat here.

Supporting Acts on Joe Hirsch/Woodward Day Still a Salty Affair

Juddmonte's Impel (Quality Road) enters the GII Gallant Bloom Stakes with a two-race winstreak to defend and locks horns with the lightly raced Senza Parole (Gun Runner) as that one makes just her third lifetime appearance in the afternoon. The former battled to a game head victory in the Groupie Doll Stakes in her most recent start, and earned a season-best 90 Beyer for the effort. Her win before that was a June 22 optional claimer at Churchill Downs which saw her clear her rivals by 1 1/2 lengths.

Senza Parole started her career last season with a lone jump Aug. 23 at Saratoga, and rolled away from a maiden field to win by 7 3/4 lengths in a 'TDN Rising Star'-worthy debut. She returned last out almost a year to the day at that venue, and tired late to finish second by three-quarters of a length against first-level allowance foes. It's going to be a step up in class for her, and she's going to need to show more, but that 94 Beyer on career unveiling shows she's got the goods to be a major player. The question for her will be if her inexperience becomes her worst enemy.

R Disaster | Sarah Andrew

Florida-bred R Disaster (Awesome Slew) has never been off the board and will try to break through with her first graded victory after coming a neck short on two occasions this year–in the GIII Hurricane Bertie and GIII Vagrancy Stakes at Gulfstream Park and Aqueduct, respectably. She's a need-to-lead type with the rail to her disposal, so she'll be dangerous.

Older horses assemble for the GIII Belmont Turf Sprint, and Twenty Six Black (War Dancer) heads a competitive field of elder statesmen in the turf dash to kick off Woodward Day in New York. The gelding enters this race with a field-high Beyer figure of 100 last out Aug. 31 at Saratoga when he won the Disco Partner Stakes. It was a matching Beyer from his effort two back July 4 in the GII Troy Stakes, where he closed late to run second to Saratoga specialist Bring Theband Home (Into Mischief). Between those last two jumps, most of his rivals have returned for this contest, including Run Curtis Run (Summer Front), who figures to be rounding back into his 2022 form where he missed the board only once in a campaign which saw him compete near exclusively against stakes-quality competition.

Also among those repeat faces is Grade I-placed Alogon (California Chroma), whose elite black type came three races back June 8 in the GI Jaipur Stakes when the boys battled for the minors behind Ag Bullet (Twirling Candy). He ran fourth in the GII Troy found in several of his competition's running lines, and last out Sept. 6 came a neck short of claiming the Da Hoss Stakes at Colonial Downs.

The homebreds lock horns in the GIII Vosburgh Stakes as LNJ Foxwoods colorbearer Scotland (Good Magic) draws to the inside of Godolphin's Nash (Medaglia d'Oro) for the seven-furlong battle. After having to go seven-wide last out in the GI Forego Stakes, he came within a length of eventual victor  Book'em Danno (Bucchero), and was given a 96 Beyer that ended up being his best effort on paper since he won an optional claimer at Saratoga July 2024 with a 98. He posted a bullet move Sept. 20 over the Oklahoma training track when he breezed four furlongs in :48.65 (1/78).

Nash also faced sprinting titan Book'em Danno, but their faceoff came July 19 in the GII Alfred G. Vanderbilt where he ran a flat sixth after being knocked around at the break. He'd entered that race a nose winner of an optional claiming contest at Churchill Downs that gave him a 108 Beyer to boast in his running lines. He's been working at Churchill, but ships up to New York for this contest.

Santa Anita Hosts Two 'Win and You're Om' Contests on Busy Saturday Coast to Coast

The GI Goodwood Stakes, a 'Win and You're In' for the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic, is shaping up to be a showdown between Privman (Justify) for the 3-year-olds and GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile shocker Full Serrano (Arg) (Full Mast), who has not missed a beat since coming to the States from South America. The latter was purchased just two races into his 2024 campaign, and debuted for Hronis Racing and trainer John Sadler in early August of that year after being imported.

Full Serrano wins the Breeders Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar in 2024 | Horsephotos

He immediately found the winner's enclosure and started a march from there that saw him produce his best race to date last November at Del Mar when he overhauled Post Time (Frosted)–who will be contesting the GII Woodward across the country in New York–to win the Dirt Mile. He was gone until Sept. 1 after that career high, but his return to the races turned into a masterclass effort as he strolled home by 7 1/4 lengths. He's been working lights out since then and the morning line likes him to the tune of 2-1 odds.

“We were really pleased with his comeback,” Sadler said. “He had a little injury early in the year and we so gave him time. He came back really well.”

Privman will be the leader of the Baffert group after GISW Gaming (Game Winner) scratched out Friday evening. The son of Justify is making his stakes debut in the Goodwood, but with a 97 Beyer to his credit after his optional claiming win last out Aug. 9, he's shown the ability to be incredibly tough here. That being said, he's facing horses with deep resumes and considerably more seasoning than he does, and it's a concern even his conditioner acknowledges could be a problem.

“He's still a bit immature. He got a little erratic when he made the lead the other day,” Baffert said. “This is a tough race. I'll see how he handles it, but we're looking down the road with him. We'll see how he handles it, but he's going to be a better older horse.”

Stablemate Nevada Beach (Omaha Beach) comes into this contest with a four-length win in the Los Alamitos Derby and is in a similar boat as Privman regarding maturity. He last seen running second to Gaming in the Affirmed Stakes after breaking his maiden at first-asking Apr. 19.

“He's a horse I've always been high on,” Baffert said. “I was going to take him to Parx [for last weekend's GI Pennsylvania Derby], but I wasn't happy with his breeze. But he's come back and breezed well.”

The GII City of Hope Stakes is not only a 'Win and You're In' race for the GII Breeders' Cup Mile, but also serves as the springboard to bigger things for Johannes (Nyquist), who looks to rebound from an ugly season start Aug. 2 in the GI Fourstardave at Saratoga. Virtually eliminated from contention a few strides out of the gates, that start had been his first since Dec. 26 when he won the GII San Gabriel Stakes. His connections announced he'd been injured not long after, and the leading turf miler in the West–arguably the country–was sidelined for over eight months as a result. With a line drawn through that race, he returns to his backyard, where he's done some of his best work, and looks to return to a winner's enclosure he's quite familiar with.

In his way is millionaire Cabo Spirit (Pioneerof the Nile), a frequent face not just in the graded ranks in California, but at the Grade I level as well. He's hit the board in his last five starts–two of those in the GI Frank E. Kilroe Mile and GI Shoemaker Mile–with a victory in the GIII American Stakes to his credit in 2025. His last seven races have yielded Beyers of mid to high 90s and he's in the best form of his career. Johannes is going to have his work cut out for him to run this one down if traffic issues find him once again.

California Gradeds Competitive Top to Bottom for Goodwood Undercard

GSW Stay Hot (Summer Front) will try to turn the tables on Gold Phoenix (Ire) (Belardo {Ire}) in the GII John Henry Turf Championship Stakes to take home his first graded victory since 2023. Spycatcher (Noble Mission {GB}) will also look to continue his rise after picking up a victory last out Aug. 17 against local optional claimers.

The downhill GII Eddie D Stakes will ask Yellow Card (Lost Treasure {Ire}) to find the form which saw him run second in the GI Aristocrat Franklin-Simpson Stakes last year at Kentucky Downs as a competitive field assembles around him for the turf dash at Santa Anita. Reef Runner (The Big Beast), who crossed the wire in first before being disqualified to second in the GIII Green Flash Handicap Aug. 30, will look to redeem himself here in his second California start.

The 3-year-old fillies will dispute who amongst them will take home the honors in the GIII John C Harris Stakes with 'TDN Rising Star' MSW & MGSP Casalu (Caracaro) playing the leading lady. The Bob Baffert runner faded to eighth last out Aug. 16 in the GI Del Mar Oaks, but returns to a fruitful distance in this contest from the 1 1/8-miles she was asked to navigate at Del Mar. To her far outside, Tight Squeeze (Sir Prancealot {Ire}) goes to post for John Sadler. While she doesn't have the most decorated of careers when compared to some of her competitors, she is returning to the sight of her career-best Beyer figure, which also functions as the best number among the field as well. If she runs back to that form, she'll be adding graded black-type to her resume here.

Hit Show (outside) | Coady Media

Mystik Dan Returns to Churchill Downs for Lukas Classic

G1 Dubai World Cup hero Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}) is the horse to beat in the GII Lukas Classic Stakes underneath the Twin Spires, but will have GI Kentucky Derby victor Mystik Dan (Goldencents) to contend with as the latter returns to the site of his greatest victory over a track he likes. The former needed every furlong of the West Virginia Governor Stakes to overpower the pacesetter, but he got the photo by a head. It was a return to winning form after he fan a flat fifth in the GI Stephen Foster in his first appearance since claiming the World Cup in the UAE in early April.

The 2024 Kentucky Derby winner has consistently shown that he like the Churchill track, and Mystik Dan will try to reverse his fortunes here after a try over the turf last out at Colonial Downs in the GI Arlington Million. He finished one spot ahead of Hit Show in the Stephen Foster, and won the GIII Blame Stakes–a race which also yielded the ultra-consistent Banishing (Ghostzapper). It's never wise to count this horse out as he's only been off the board once this season, and every other time, he's either outbattled his challenger or given them all they can handle. He's probably going to do the same thing again here.

In the 12th renewal fo the Lukas Classic, the late trainer's widow Laurie Lukas will be on hand to present the trophy to the winning connections.

Most Wanted (Candy Ride {Arg}) will be very tough to beat in the GIII Ack Ack Stakes as the 6-5 favorite drawn along the rail. He's shaping up to be the lone speed, and it will be a tough to run him down as he's not shy about throwing down in a fight. Will Take It (Tapit) comes in with a two race winstreak and good prior efforts at this track, but will be playing catch up in the lane. Who Dey (Liam's Map) on the far outside will be looking to claim his fourth win in a row.

The post Locked Looms Large in Woodward, ‘Win and You’re In’ Weekend at Santa Anita Kicks Off Saturday appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

View the full article