Gun Runner’s 3-year-old colt Locked defeated a deep field in Saturday’s $500,000 Cigar Mile (G1) at Aqueduct in a career-best performance.
The chestnut colt, who missed the Triple Crown, has come back better than ever, winning an allowance race in dominating fashion on Oct. 19 before Saturday’s huge victory. Locked has help propel Gun Runner to the top of the 2024 3-year-olds Sire list, with seven stakes winners, five graded winners and over $11.4 million in progeny earnings for his sophomore class.
Longshots Pipeline and Repo Rocks set the early pace, with Locked biding his time about four lengths from the lead while well off the rail. Going into the turn, Locked began to cut into the margin as was just behind Mullikin, who had taken over the top spot, by the time the field turned for home. Mullikin, winner of the Forego S. (G1), tried to fend off Locked, but could not withstand the challenge as Locked came home a 1 ½-length winner in 1:34.52 on a fast track.
Locked earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 101.
“He showed up today and delivered at a distance that—he’s shown he’s very versatile, but I think his real strength is going to be getting him back around two turns,” winning trainer Todd Pletcher said. “He needed the start to get under his belt from the layoff and to set him up for a big performance like this.”
With an eye on the Pegasus World Cup (G1) Jan. 25 at Gulfstream Park, Pletcher said, “I’ll talk to Aron (Wellman of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners) and the guys. That’s one of the things we talked about. Of course, you’ve got (the G1 Saudi Cup) a month after that, so we’ve got some options.”
Locked, who won last year’s Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland, is 4-0-2 in six starts and has earned $935,650. He is owned by Eclipse, along with Walmac Farm, who purchased the colt for $425,000 at the 2022 Keeneland September Sale.
Locked was bred in Kentucky by Rosa Colasanti and is the second foal out of Luna Rosa, who is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Gabby’s Golden Gal and multiple Grade 2 winner Always a Princess. Luna Rosa was bred to Gun Runner for 2025.
