Locked won the Santa Anita Handicap by 8 1/2 lengths after losing ground on both turns and catching the 8-year-old Express Train. Despite facing strong competition, Locked went off as the favorite and delivered a dazzling performance. The victory marked Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ success on the day, with another win in the San Felipe Stakes.
Trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Jose Ortiz, Locked was instructed to be aggressive and covered a lot of ground with his stride. The decision to add blinkers for the Big ‘Cap proved beneficial after a slow start in the Pegasus. Eclipse and Walmac purchased Locked for $425,000 at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, and the colt has now won multiple stakes races.
Winning the Santa Anita Handicap was particularly special for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ president Aron Wellman, a native Californian. Locked’s pedigree includes Gun Runner as his sire, standing at Three Chimneys Farm for a stud fee of $250,000. The victory in the Big ‘Cap added to Locked’s impressive racing resume, which includes wins in the Breeders’ Futurity and Cigar Mile Handicap.
