Adam Coglianese Photo

Locked receives 101 BSF for G2 Cigar Mile presented by TwinSpires triumph

by NYRA Press Office

• Locked receives 101 BSF for G2 Cigar Mile presented by TwinSpires triumph
• Cox undecided on Muhimma’s next start after G2 Demoiselle score
• Poster successful in dirt and stakes debut in G2 Remsen
• Mullikin earns 97 BSF for runner-up effort in G2 Cigar Mile presented by TwinSpires

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm’s Locked capped a short but impressive sophomore campaign for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher with a 1 1/2-length score in Saturday’s Grade 2 Cigar Mile presented by TwinSpires, a handicap for 3-year-olds and up, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

In victory, Locked made it a perfect 2-for-2 in a campaign that was abbreviated due to injury in the early part of the year. He made up for lost time with two robust victories at the Big A this fall, scoring by 7 1/2 lengths against elders in a seven-furlong allowance sprint in his first effort back in October, and following with his rallying coup of the Cigar Mile over Grade 1-winner Mullikin.

“He’s doing excellent and came out of the race in great order,” Pletcher said. “He’s always been a highly talented colt. Physically, he’s made a nice progression from two to three. He’s got all the physical attributes, and what’s great about him is he’s also got a super mind to go along with all the talent.”

In the Cigar Mile, Locked, winner of last year’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity, faced three other top-level winners and four millionaires, getting the best of his nine rivals after stalking the pace in sixth under Hall of Famer John Velazquez. He steadily improved position to be within one length of the prominent Mullikin as he took over from tiring pacesetting Pipeline at the top of the lane.

Mullikin drove home strongly under Flavien Prat but Locked closed strongly in the six path to overtake his foe in the final sixteenth and draw off to stop the clock in 1:34.52. He was awarded a career-best 101 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort.

Pletcher praised Locked’s adaptability as he has posted strong victories in both prominent and stalking fashion.

“Super happy with his effort,” Pletcher said. “He’s a little more tactical as a 3-year-old and hopefully that will continue, and he’ll appreciate added distance. We were pleased with his allowance race, so that gave us confidence to run him back at a one-turn mile. He showed his versatility coming from off the pace and put in a good, sustained closing run against a really good 4-year-old. For him to be able to do that in his second start of the year against older horses – it was a great race and one of the stronger Cigar Mile fields we have seen in a while. A great result.”

Pletcher said the Gun Runner chestnut will head south to Palm Beach Downs on Tuesday as the connections make a decision on where the talented chestnut will race next. Potential targets include the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup on January 25 at Gulfstream Park, and Group 1 events in the Middle East in the Saudi Cup and Dubai World Cup.

“He’ll leave Belmont on Tuesday and arrive at Palm Beach Downs on Wednesday morning,” Pletcher said. “I’ve got to talk to Aron [Wellman of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners] and come up with a firm game plan. We’ve certainly talked about the Pegasus being the likely next goal, but we’ll have to have a discussion about Saudi and Dubai and if we’re interested in those. For the moment, we’ll enjoy this win and get him down to Palm Beach Downs and firm up a game plan then.”

In victory, Pletcher secured a record-extending seventh Cigar Mile win, while Velazquez equaled Hall of Famer Jerry Bailey’s jockey record of five. Velazquez has won the last three Cigar Miles after taking the 2022 edition with the Pletcher-trained Mind Control and repeating last year with the Dallas Stewart-trained Hoist the Gold.

Pletcher spoke of the success he and his fellow enshrine have had together in three collaborative Cigar Mile wins and in other recent marquee races with Champion 2-Year-Old Colt Fierceness and dual Champion Malathaat.

“It’s been a terrific, mutually beneficial relationship for a long, long time, and it’s a real credit to Johnny’s ability to continue to ride at the highest level for so many years,” Pletcher reflected. “He seems to be riding as well or even better as ever and gave Locked the perfect trip yesterday – knew when to pedal and knew when to settle a little. We always have a ton of confidence when he have Johnny on board. That was a fun win for all of us.”

Pletcher’s successful Saturday at the Big A also included a breakthrough victory by KimDon Racing’s Tizzy in the Sky, who made the grade in the one-mile Grade 3, $200,000 Go for Wand off a six-month layoff.

The 5-year-old daughter of Sky Kingdom rated in second 1 1/2 lengths off the pace set by Rachel’s Rock and took command through the turn under Prat. The favored Occult came storming down the center of the course with Movie Moxy following suit to threaten the new leader, but Tizzy in the Sky dug in gamely to fend off her challengers by a half-length, garnering an 89 Beyer in victory.

“She came back well and that was a great win for her to get that graded stakes win,” Pletcher said. “I thought it was a gutsy effort on her part considering it was a pretty solid pace. It looked like they were closing in on her, but she kept finding more to hold everyone off.”

Pletcher added it is satisfying when hard-trying horses like Tizzy in the Sky make the grade.

“It’s really rewarding for us and the team, and the ownership was really hoping to get that elusive graded win with her,” Pletcher said. “She’s a filly that has always trained exceptionally well and trains like she has Grade 1 ability, so we’re happy to get that graded stakes. Hopefully, she has another race or two in her before she goes to the breeding shed.”

Tizzy in the Sky built upon previous stakes success after winning the Listed Top Flight Invitational in April here and finishing second to Dr B in this event last year. She improved her lifetime record to 13-5-4-0 with $498,525 in total purse earnings.

Pletcher said the mare will remain at Belmont Park to train towards the nine-furlong $150,000 Ladies on January 11 at the Big A, a track she boasts a 8-5-2-0 record over.

“The spacing is good, and she really likes Aqueduct, so it makes sense,” Pletcher said.

Another possible Ladies contender for Pletcher is recent allowance-level winner Julia Shining, who took a local one-mile route by 3 1/4 lengths after a stumble at the start on December 1 off a seven-month layoff. The 4-year-old daughter of Curlin and full-sister to the aforementioned Malathaat was seven lengths back in last-of-6 through the first quarter-mile, but improved position at every point of call under Dylan Davis to take over in the stretch and coast home well clear of Golden Degree.

“That was a good comeback,” Pletcher said of the 2022 Grade 2 Demoiselle-winner. “She overcame a pretty good stumble and put in a sustained run in a good effort. We’re happy to have her back and doing well. She, too, is a candidate for the Ladies, but we’ll see how things go.”

Pletcher also noted that his other Saturday runner, Carmen’s Candy Jar, emerged well from an even fifth-place finish in the Grade 2 Demoiselle won by Muhimma. A New York homebred for Repole Stable, the daughter of Vino Rosso has placed in three state-bred stakes this year, a division Pletcher said she is likely to return to.

“She’s doing well, and she tried hard, she just needs to drop back into New York company,” Pletcher said. “I think if we can find some longer races against New York-breds, she should be competitive. She’s a really determined little filly that tries hard every time, so we were hoping to do a little better, but we’re not displeased with her effort.”

***

Cox undecided on Muhimma’s next start after G2 Demoiselle score

Dual Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox added another strong juvenile filly to his arsenal on Saturday when Shadwell Stable’s Muhimma remained undefeated with a one-length triumph in the nine-furlong Grade 2, $250,000 Demoiselle for juvenile fillies, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

In victory, the daughter of Munnings secured the maximum allotment of the 10-5-3-2-1 Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points awarded to the top-five finishers.

Cox said the filly’s successful first foray around two turns could mean a bright future in next year’s top Grade 1 events for fillies and mares.

“We learned a lot yesterday and it gives you confidence,” Cox said. “She can handle two turns and the distance, and the mile and an eighth is obviously the Kentucky Oaks, the CCA Oaks, the Breeders’ Cup Distaff… stuff like that. It’s a lot, but we think she’s very special and it was good to see her handle the distance.”

Muhimma entered with a perfect 2-for-2 record after dominant open-lengths sprint victories with pace-pressing trips in September and November at Churchill Downs. In the Demoiselle, she led at each point of call under regular pilot Florent Geroux and gamely turned back the oncoming Ballerina d’Oro to win in a final time of 1:49.84.

Cox said he was pleased with Muhimma Sunday morning at his Belmont Park barn.

“She looks great. We’ll send her south and I’m not sure when,” Cox said. “We’ll back off her for a little bit and then get her back [training]. Not sure where we’re going with her yet.”

Muhimma joins multiple Grade 1-winner and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies champ Immersive, Grade 2-winner Good Cheer, graded stakes-placed Eclatant and Listed stakes-winner Stunner as top contenders in this division for Cox, who said Muhimma has stamped herself as an elite prospect.

“Right now, she’s top-three,” Cox said, with a laugh. “She’s good. Very good.”

Muhimma is out of the dual graded stakes-placed Tapit mare Princesa Carolina with her second dam being dual Grade 1-winner Pure Clan. Cox said it is special when a well-bred horse like Muhimma lives up to expectations.

“Just because the family is good doesn’t mean they’re talented on the racetrack, but she came in from Ocala and Karl Keegan broke her for Shadwell and said, ‘She seems like she’s pretty good,’” Cox recalled. “She’s never disappointed us and has always been good in the mornings and the afternoons as well.”

Local options for sophomore fillies on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks are the nine-furlong $125,000 Busanda on January 18 (20-10-6-4-2 points), the one-mile Listed $200,000 Busher on March 1 (50-25-15-10-5 points) and the nine-furlong Grade 3, $200,000 Gazelle on April 5 (100-50-25-15-10 points).

On Saturday, Cox also sent out Godolphin’s Kentucky homebred Comparative to a fifth-place finish in the Grade 3 Go for Wand going a one-turn mile in her first effort off an eight-month layoff.

The Grade 3-winning daughter of Street Sense tracked two lengths off the pace set by Rachel’s Rock, who marked splits of 22.89 seconds and 45.75 over the fast main track. Comparative made a mild three-wide bid into the stretch under Manny Franco but weakened in the lane and was defeated 5 3/4 lengths by the victorious Tizzy in the Sky.

“She ran well and came out of it in good order. She was maybe just a touch close to what I would say was a hot pace,” Cox said. “A little bit of a tough ask off the layoff – it wasn’t a bad effort, but we were hoping for better. I think she got something out of it from a fitness standpoint and we’ll look to get her back around two turns.”

Cox said the 4-year-old Comparative will likely remain in New York to train towards the $150,000 Ladies going nine-furlongs on January 11 at the Big A.

Other upcoming stakes engagements for Cox horses in New York include the Listed $150,000 Gravesend on December 28 for recent Listed Fall Highweight Handicap third-place finisher Top Gunner, and the Listed $150,000 Queens County on December 29 for stakes-winner Tabeguache.

Michael Dubb’s Top Gunner was a closing third to stablemate Giant Mischief in the six-furlong Fall Highweight, where he went six-wide under Jose Lezcano to pick up the minor awards 4 1/4 lengths back. The son of Into Mischief was a $62,500 claim for his connections in August at Saratoga Race Course and won the Parx Sprint in September at first asking for Cox ahead of a fifth in the Grade 3 Bold Ruler in October here.

“He ran big,” Cox said. “I think he bounced a bit in the Bold Ruler, but the Fall Highweight was a good effort.

“Giant Mischief is heading south and I’m not sure where he’s going to run, but we’ll give him a little time and go from there,” Cox added.

Jeffrey Drown’s Tabeguache was last seen annexing a local one-mile optional claiming tilt by a nose over Winit on November 24. The win marked the Into Mischief 4-year-old’s first trip to the winner’s circle since taking the St. Louis Derby last August at FanDuel Sportsbook and Horse Racing.

“He finally broke through and got his first win of the year the other day,” Cox said. “He’s always there, he always runs and shows up.”

Tabeguache holds a 9-1-2-2 record at the Big A, where he has made eight of his last nine starts.

***

Poster successful in dirt and stakes debut in G2 Remsen

Godolphin’s Kentucky homebred Poster earned a career-best 84 Beyer Speed Figure for his narrow nose victory over Aviator Gui in Saturday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Remsen, a nine-furlong route for 2-year-olds, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

In victory, the Eoin Harty trainee secured 10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points, matching the points tally earned one week earlier by stablemate and fellow Godolphin Kentucky homebred First Resort in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs.

Poster, with record-setting jockey Flavien Prat aboard, rated off the pace in the early running before making a bold move through the turn and opening up a two-length advantage at the stretch call. He stayed on strong to the wire to turn back the lugging-in Aviator Gui by a nose and stop the clock in a final time of 1:50.37.

“I thought it was a good effort. He ran extremely well. He handled the distance, and he handled the track - he took a lot of dirt, and took that in stride,” Harty said. “When he hit the front, it looked like he was looking around a bit, but he kept to his task. It was a learning experience. He's young and immature, but it's hopefully a stepping stone to bigger and better things.”

The winning effort also provided Prat with his 80th stakes win of the year, surpassing Irad Ortiz, Jr.’s single-season record set in 2022. Prat is now at 55 graded stakes wins, equaling Jerry Bailey’s 2003 record.

Harty credited Prat with pushing the button on the winning early move.

"That's what jocks do when they're riding at the top of their game,” Harty said.

Poster made his dirt debut in the Remsen following a pair of one-mile wins on turf, graduating in August at Ellis Park and following with an allowance score in October at Keeneland that garnered a 69 Beyer.

"The route wasn't going to be a problem. He's a big horse and he's never run at any distance shorter than a mile. I had no reservations about the distance,” Harty said. “The dirt is always a question and, at some point, you need to find out if they can handle it or not and yesterday was the day.

“He's improved with every race,” added Harty. “It's nice to know he doesn't have a preferred surface. But at this time, at this juncture of his career, I can't see him running on turf any time soon.”

Poster is out of the winning Tapit mare Pin Up, who is a half-sister to multiple Grade 1-victor Bernardini, who took the 2006 Grade 1 Travers, Preakness and Jockey Club Gold Cup en route to Champion 3-Year-Old Colt honors. Harty trained Poster's half-brother Stately Order, along with half-sisters Fancy Dress and Betty Grable - all Godolphin homebreds out of Pin Up.

Harty credited the quality of the Godolphin breeding program for continuing to produce top-notch runners.

"When you find that they can run, there's no limitations as to how good they could possibly be,” Harty said.

Harty said Poster exited the Remsen in good order and that he will leave all options open for a next start, including nine-furlong Kentucky Derby preps at Aqueduct such as the Grade 3, $250,000 Withers on February 1 and the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial on April 5.

“He ate his dinner and looked good this morning - bright and healthy,” Harty said. “I'm not going to land on a race right now, but those two races are certainly on his radar. Everything is on the table.”

Last week, First Resort utilized a prominent trip under Luis Saez to secure a 2 1/4-length score over well-regarded Jonathan’s Way in the 1 1/16-mile Kentucky Jockey Club.

"That was another good ride. I didn't encounter the trouble that Jonathan's Way did, and my rider made the most of a slower pace," Harty said. "He's a very nice horse, too. I wouldn't pick one over the other, but First Resort has always struck me as a very talented colt.”

First Resort, by Uncle Mo and out of the Grade 1-winning Street Boss mare Fair Maiden, graduated on debut in July sprinting 5 1/2-furlongs over a muddy and sealed track at Ellis Park. He followed one month later with a pacesetting 3 1/4-length second to Showcase in the 6 1/2-furlong Grade 2 Saratoga Special before a fourth-place effort in the Grade 1 Summer traveling one-mile over firm turf in September at Woodbine.

Harty said he was comfortable seeing First Resort stretch out around two-turns over dirt in the Kentucky Jockey Club.

"The dam is a Street Boss, by Street Cry, there's no distance limitations on the dam side and Indian Charlie [sire of Uncle Mo] on the top - there's speed and stamina,” Harty said. "He's a really big-striding colt. He covers an immense amount of ground, leisurely, in the mornings. I had no reservations about his ability to stretch out. Will he stretch out to a mile and a quarter? Who knows, but he's definitely a two-turn kind of horse.”

Harty, who trained Street Cry in a 2-year-old campaign that included a third-place finish in the 2000 Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, has conditioned a trio of past Kentucky Derby starters in Colonel John [6th, 2008], Mr. Hot Stuff [15th, 2009] and American Lion [11th, 2010].

He indicated he will also leave all options open regarding a next start for First Resort as he continues to evaluate his budding roster of Derby hopefuls.

***

Mullikin earns 97 BSF for runner-up effort in G2 Cigar Mile presented by TwinSpires

Siena Farm and WinStar Farm’s Grade 1-winner Mullikin stretched out beyond seven furlongs for the first time in a salty 10-horse renewal of the Grade 2 Cigar Mile Handicap presented by TwinSpires on Saturday at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trained by Rodolphe Brisset, the 4-year-old Violence dark bay stalked the pace from second position under Flavien Prat before taking the lead in the stretch and being run down by fellow Grade 1-winner Locked.

The 1 1/2-length second only improved a brilliant 6-4-1-1 campaign that included wins in the Grade 1 Forego in August at Saratoga Race Course, Grade 2 John A. Nerud in July here and a third in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint in November at Del Mar.

The Cigar Mile runner-up finish earned a 97 Beyer Speed Figure, and Brisset said he is enthusiastic about Mullikin’s ability at the distance going forward.

“He was second best. We were traveling where we wanted to be. Flavien rode the race to win the race, turning for home he took the lead, and it didn’t look like the distance was the issue,” Brisset said. “He just got run down in the last sixteenth and we know we may be OK to come back at one mile next year if we want to.”

Brisset said Mullikin exited the race in good order and will likely get some time off before embarking on a 5-year-old campaign.

“He came out of the race very good. He looks sound on the jog. He ran his tail off,” said Brisset. “If he would’ve won, maybe we would’ve had eyes at the Saudi Cup, but he doesn’t owe us anything. It was six races this year - four wins, one second, one third. They are not robots, they are not machines, I think he deserves to be brought home. He will get some down time at WinStar and then we will set him up for next year.

“We have plenty of Grade 1s to try to win,” Brisset added.

Brisset said looking far in advance, races that could be targeted include, “Maybe the first one would be the Churchill Downs - seven-eighths at Churchill - then maybe the Met Mile, Forego, and a second shot at the Breeders’ Cup. We have plenty of time to see. First will be some well-deserved rest and then we go from there.”

Brisset also saddled Storyteller Racing and Michael Schroeck’s Liam in the Dust to a third-place finish on Saturday in the local Grade 2 Demoiselle, a nine-furlong test for juvenile fillies. While 7 3/4 lengths back of the victorious Muhimma, Liam in the Dust did pick up three of the 10-5-3-2-1 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points on offer to the top-five finishers.

“She’s doing very good. She came out of the race well, is jogging sound, legs look good,” Brisset said. “I’m very happy with her race. No excuse is the main thing. We had a rough trip before in the Alcibiades and an allowance. At least yesterday, we were hoping for a clean trip and got a clean trip.”

Brisset said that at this stage, the Liam’s Map chestnut may be a tad overmatched on the Oaks trail, as she has been well-beaten by the Brad Cox-trained Muhimma in her past two races, and that rival is only one of Cox’s contenders along with three-time Grade 1-winner Immersive and Grade 2 Golden Rod-winner Good Cheer.

“I’m not going to say she is off the Oaks trail, but we are Grade 2 and Grade 3-placed, she has pedigree and some talent, I don’t really want to make her do something she may not want to do and not have a career she can have because of focusing on the Oaks,” Brisset explained. “My guess would be a little time off and then coming back in a '1-X' then try to win a stakes.”

Brisset said that he doesn’t think Liam in the Dust has yet shown her full potential.

“I’m still thinking we may not have seen what we have in the morning. She ran plenty of times at two and she deserves a break,” said Brisset.

Brisset also commented on Hat Creek Racing’s multiple stakes-winner B G Warrior, who has drawn post 8-of-12 in Saturday’s six-furlong $250,000 Holiday Inaugural Turfway Park Synthetic Championship at Turfway Park. The 4-year-old Run Away and Hide filly sold for $150,000 at the recent Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale and is coming from the care of trainer Hugo Andrade.

B G Warrior boasts three frontrunning stakes wins at Turfway Park, but Saturday’s field of 12 plus two also-eligibles includes last-out stakes-winners Love Appeals for Christophe Clement and Upper Case for Paulo Lobo.

“I was glancing at it and it looks like if she breaks clean, she may be the lone speed. We are not sure, I’m 50/50 on running, there’s an allowance the following week for which she is eligible. This is the first time for us off of the sale and all of that,” said Brisset. “She is very possible for the stakes because she has an affinity for Turfway and the Tapeta.”