While this weekend's Pacific Classic (G1) and Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) will bring the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) into a sharper focus, grade 1 winner Locked will be using the Sept. 27 Woodward Stakes (G2) as his prep for the Nov. 1 showdown at Del Mar.
Following a :48.83 breeze Aug. 27 at Saratoga Race Course, trainer Todd Pletcher said the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) winner would be pointed to the 1 1/8-mile Woodward at Aqueduct Racetrack.
"He had a good breeze today, so we're dialed in on the Woodward," Pletcher said. "He won two races at Aqueduct last fall, including the Cigar Mile (G2). He likes the track and it sets him better for the Classic as opposed to others who have been running steadily and could use more time before the Breeders' Cup."
Locked, owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm, closed out his 3-year-old campaign with a win in the Cigar Mile and then posted a second in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) and a triumph followed by an 8 1/2-length romp in the March 1 Big 'Cap at Santa Anita Park.
But since then, the son of Gun Runner has yet to return to the winner's circle. He was fourth in the Alysheba Stakes (G2) and third in Saratoga's Suburban Stakes (G2) at the Classic distance of a mile and a quarter.
"He ran a huge race in the Santa Anita Handicap and then ran into Fierceness, who set a track record in the Alysheba. That race did not set up well for him," Pletcher said. "For the Suburban, it was a deep, demanding track that was hard on closers to make up ground. I just don't think he cared for the way the track played that day."
