Breeders’ Cup: Pletcher is ready to go with his 2-year-olds
Todd Pletcher was aware Locked was installed as theindividual, morning-line favorite for the first Kentucky Derby Future Wager.Not that there was anything remarkable or even noteworthy about that right now.
“I don’t pay much attention to it other than recognizingthat I think everyone appreciates him the same way we do,” Pletcher said.
Of more immediate note for the Hall of Fame trainer, Lockedwas made the 7-2 morning-line favorite for Friday’s running of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. He also has been the top choice in futures betting, just ahead ofBob Baffert’s Grade 1 winner Muth.
Now we are talking. And so was Pletcher of the moreimmediate challenge for his 2-year-old Gun Runner colt who closed into arepresentative, early pace on the way to winning Oct. 7 in the 1 1/16-mile Breeders’Futurity (G1) at Keeneland.
With José Ortiz riding as usual, Pletcher figured it mightbe a similar situation Friday in yet another 1 1/16-mile test, especially withChad Brown’s Champagne (G1) runner-up General Partner and Baffert-trainedAmerican Pharoah (G1) runner-up Wine Me Up lining up as the likely pacesetters.
“It should be an honest pace,” Pletcher said at the shippersbarn at Santa Anita. “He’s a very tactical horse. He can do whatever we need todo. He can be close. He can come from behind. He can come from a little bit offof it. We’ll just play it by ear.”
Owned by Gary Broad’s Walmac Farm and Aron Wellman’s EclipseThoroughbred Partners, Locked is a $425,000 colt who started poorly and made up7 1/2 lengths in his third-place debut Aug. 5 at Saratoga. That where hismaiden-breaking, 7 1/4-length mile win Sept. 1 was good for a 96 Beyer SpeedFigure, according to Daily Racing Form. A powerful stretch run worth a93 Beyer in the Breeders’ Futurity franked Locked’s versatility.
“He’s an outstanding 2-year-old colt that certainly givesyou every feeling that he’s going to continue to improve and will handle addeddistance,” Pletcher said with a nod to races in 2023. “We’ve been excited abouthim all summer. It’s been great to see his development. Hopefully he makesanother move forward in the Juvenile.”
Pletcher has three promising 2-year-olds racing Friday, the others being Candied and Agate Road.
With her 2-for-2 record, Candied has 4-1 program odds in the1 1/16-mile Juvenile Fillies. With a six-furlong, debut win at Saratoga and aGrade 1 score in the 1 1/16-mile Alcibiades last month at Keeneland, the CandyRide filly owned by Wellman appears to be more of a pure closer than Locked. ButPletcher said the way for Luis Sáez to win would be no different for Candied,who faces California equine bombshell and 4-5 favorite Tamara.
“Same way,” he said. “Just try to get a good position goinginto the first turn. Give her an opportunity to get in the clear and make thatbig move that she’s had in both of her races.”
Agate Road, who won the 1 1/16-mile Pilgrim (G2) last month inNew York, was made 8-1 cutting back for the one-mile Juvenile Turf. Irelandtrainer Aidan O’Brien, who has won this race a record five times, has the toptwo choices in Group 2 winner River Tiber at 3-1 and Group 1 runner-up Unquestionableat 4-1.
“You always have to respect the European turf horses, forsure,” Pletcher said. “In these types of races with a full field, it’s allabout the trip.”
Irad Ortiz Jr. will ride Agate Road, a Quality Road colt whois 2-for-2 on turf for owners Mike Repole and Vinnie Viola.
“He’s got a really good turn of foot,” Pletcher said. “Wejust need to get lucky and get him into position wherehe can produce it at the right time.”
The National Weather Service predicted more warm sunshinefor Santa Anita this week with highs of 86 degrees Wednesday, 86 Thursday, 82for Friday’s races and 81 for the climactic day of Breeders’ Cup 2023.
