Pletcher weighs next start for Locked after Cigar Mile win

Locked capped a short but impressive sophomore campaign for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher with a 1 1/2-length score in Saturday’s Grade 2 Cigar Mile, a handicap for 3-year-olds and up at Aqueduct.

In victory, Locked made it 2-for-2 in a 2024 campaign that was abbreviated because of 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 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. He was awarded a career-best 101 Beyer Speed Figure from Daily Racing Form for the effort.

Pletcher praised Locked’s adaptability as he has posted strong victories in both 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 owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm will head south to Palm Beach Downs on Tuesday as the connections make a decision on where he will race next. Potential targets include the Pegasus World Cup (G1) on Jan. 25 at Gulfstream Park and Group 1 events in the Middle East in the Saudi Cup and Dubai World Cup.

“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, and Velazquez equaled Hall of Famer Jerry Bailey’s jockey record of five. Velazquez has won the last 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 Velazquez have had 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 said. “He seems to be riding as well or even better as ever and gave Locked the perfect trip (Saturday), 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 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, garnering an 89 Beyer in victory.

“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.”

Pletcher added it is satisfying when hard-trying horses such as Tizzy in the Sky make the grade.

“It’s really rewarding for us and the team, and the ownership was really hoping to get that elusive graded win with her,” Pletcher said. “She’s a filly that has always trained exceptionally well and trains like she has Grade 1 ability, so we’re happy to get that graded stakes. Hopefully, she has another race or two in her before she goes to the breeding shed.”

Tizzy in the Sky built upon previous stakes success after winning the Listed Top Flight Invitational in April here and finishing second to Dr B in this event last year. She improved her lifetime record to 13: 5-4-0 with $498,525 in total purse earnings.

Pletcher said the mare will remain at Belmont Park to train toward the nine-furlong Ladies on Jan. 11 at the Big A, where she boasts a 8: 5-2-0 record.

“The spacing is good, and she really likes Aqueduct, so it makes sense,” Pletcher said.

Another possible Ladies contender for Pletcher is recent allowance-level winner Julia Shining, who took a local one-mile route by 3 1/4 lengths after a stumble at the start on Dec. 1 off a seven-month layoff. The 4-year-old daughter of Curlin and full-sister to Malathaat was seven lengths back in last of six through the first quarter-mile, but ishe mproved position at every point of call under Dylan Davis to take over in the stretch and coast home well clear of Golden Degree.

“That was a good comeback,” Pletcher said of the 2022 Demoiselle (G2) winner. “She overcame a pretty good stumble and put in a sustained run in a good effort. We’re happy to have her back and doing well. She, too, is a candidate for the Ladies, but we’ll see how things go.”

Pletcher also noted that his other Saturday runner, Carmen’s Candy Jar, emerged well from an even fifth-place finish in the Grade 2 Demoiselle won by Muhimma. A New York homebred for Repole Stable, the daughter of Vino Rosso has placed in three state-bred stakes this year, a division Pletcher said she is likely to return to.

“She’s doing well, and she tried hard, she just needs to drop back into New York company,” Pletcher said. “I think if we can find some longer races against New York-breds, she should be competitive. She’s a really determined little filly that tries hard every time, so we were hoping to do a little better, but we’re not displeased with her effort.”