Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm’s Locked is pointing toward a two-turn dirt Breeders’ Cup race, but his connections aren’t sure which one yet, reports Daily Racing Form.
The $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic over 1 ¼ miles and the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile are both under consideration for Locked.
“A lot of it could be how the race shapes up, how fast a pace you get to run at a mile,” trainer Todd Pletcher told DRF. “He’s definitely versatile enough where both are options.”
Locked ended a two-race losing streak in winning the Grade 2 Woodward Stakes over 1 ⅛ miles at Belmont at the Big A on Sept. 27. He had to run down the lone leader Phileas Fogg for the win.
In March, Locked won the 10-furlong G1 Santa Anita Handicap by 8 ½ lengths, and then lost his next two starts, the 1 ⅛-mile G2 Alysheba and the 1 ¼-mile Suburban.
“You could argue that’s one of the strongest performances of the year,” Pletcher told DRF about the Santa Anita Handicap victory. “It would take that type of performance to win this Classic.”
However, Locked has proven capable over one mile. He won the one-turn G2 Cigar Mile in December and the two-turn 1 1/16-mile G1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland as a juvenile.
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Complicating the issue are Todd Pletcher’s other three competitors in the Classic (Fierceness, Mindframe, and Antiquarian) and fellow Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners runner Journalism.
A 4-year-old son of Gun Runner, who fetched $425,00 at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Locked will begin stud at Gainesway upon his retirement.
Read more at drf.com.
This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Sep 29, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Paulick Report as a Preferred Source by clicking here.