Keeneland: Locked takes wide trip to win Breeders’ Futurity

JoséOrtiz was conflicted about his winning ride on Locked on Saturday in the 110thrunning of the Grade 1, $600,000 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland.

At onceit validated the faith bettors showed in making Locked the 3-5 post-timefavorite. It also put a seventh top-level victory on the breeding résumé of hersire Gun Runner.

ButOrtiz said it was as far from a perfect ride as he could imagine.

“Terrible trip,” he said. “Both turns were very wide. I’m not very happy withmy ride. I’m very proud of this horse, but when you’re six wide in both turns,it’s very hard for a 2-year-old going two turns for the first time. For him topull that off and win this race was pretty amazing.”

TheEquibase chart caller said it was five to three wide through the first turn andfour wide in the second, but no matter. Talent finally won out in the end.

After breaking from the outside post in the field of eight 2-year-olds, Lockedgradually made up ground on previously undefeated The Wine Steward (7-2) in theshort homestretch and finished a half-length clear to earn $358,050 first prizeand an automatic invitation to the Nov. 3 running of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenileat Santa Anita.

“Anytime you can step up and win a Grade 1, that’s key. To do it when you overcomea pretty wide journey, it’s even more impressive,” said winning trainer ToddPletcher, who also looked after Friday’s win by Gun Runner filly Candied in theAlcibiades (G1) over the same fast, main track.

With a17-25 mph headwind in the homestretch on a 61-degree day that felt very muchlike autumn, Locked had a winning time of 1:45.06 for the 1 1/16 miles. Bycomparison on a calmer more summery Friday, Candied covered the same distance1:44.17, about 4 1/2 lengths faster.

“Today hetook a step forward,” Ortiz said of Locked, who broke his maiden last out onhis second try, running off by 7 1/4 lengths going a mile Sept. 1 at Saratoga.“Hopefully he’ll take another step forward in the Breeders’ Cup. That’s what itis with these 2-year-olds. They’ve got to take a step forward after every race,so hopefully he does.”

Thepace was nothing special. Maiden winners Baytown Chatterbox (89-1) and JustSteel (16-1) set it early with Iroquois victor (G3) West Saratoga (17-1)stalking them. The Wine Steward was fourth midway up the backstretch, andLocked was sixth of the eight runners. They went out in 24.47 seconds for thefirst quarter-mile and, despite a tailwind on the backstretch, clocked thefirst half-mile at 48.23 seconds.

WithLuis Sáez pushing the button in the second turn, The Wine Steward make his moveto within a head of the lead through three-quarters in 1:13.37. Locked wasstill sixth as he took the long way around.

By thetime they got through the mile in 1:38.49, the early speed had faded, and itwas down to Locked and The Wine Steward. Locked had put a head in front, andWine Steward could not keep up in the last 110 yards.

“He wasa game horse who ran his race, and he was second best today,” The WineSteward’s trainer Mike Maker said. “I thought at the top of the lane they justopened the rail for us, but they didn’t.”

“Hetried pretty hard,” Sáez said. “He just got beat.”

TheWine Steward’s second-place effort was 3 3/4 lengths better than GenerousTipper (17-1), who closed from last to finish third. They were followed inorder by Northern Flame (49-1), West Saratoga, Just Steel, trainer Brad Cox’sdebut winner Awesome Road (3-1) and Baytown Chatterbox.

Lockedpaid $3.52, $2.52 and $2.54; The Wine Steward $3.46 and $3.18; and GenerousTipper $4.70.

Whereit was a given that Locked would be headed to the Breeders’ Cup, The WineSteward was all but committed to join him in the gate for the 1 1/16-mile racein California.

“If youhold my feet to the fire now, it would be a yes,” Maker said of the Vino Rossocolt who brought in a 3-for-3 record that included victories in minor stakes atEllis Park and Saratoga. “I’ve got to talk (lead owner) Peter Proscia into it.”

Makersaid that with a laugh. Pletcher was more characteristically low key in hiscelebration of his second Grade 1 victory in as many days with a Gun Runner2-year-old owned by Aron Wellman’s Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners.

In thecase of Candied, who qualified for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies with herAlcibiades triumph Friday, it was with a filly whose looked every bit theinexperienced, two-time starter that she was. With Locked on Saturday, it wasthe wide trip. In both cases, horsepower overcame adversity.

“They’retwo exceptionally talented 2-year-olds,” Pletcher said. “A great weekend forEclipse to come into Keeneland and win two Grade 1 races. It’s hard to do anytime, but to win both 2-year-old dirt races is a great tribute to the job thatAron and his team do.”

If onlyhe had a few more Gun Runner 2-year-olds in his barn to follow Locked.

“Nope,nope,” he said with a wry smile. “Haven’t had too many to begin with, but we’relucky to have him.”