Brilliant Locked Aims to Add Historic Suburban Stakes to His Résumé

The Gun Runner colt will look to rebound from his lackluster fourth-place finish in the Alysheba Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs when he faces seven tough rivals

Locked Winning the Most Recent Edition of the Santa Anita Handicap / BENOIT PHOTO

SARATOGA SPRINGS, New York (Special for Turf Diario).- The Suburban Stakes (G2) remains one of summer’s marquee events for older routers in the U.S., and this Friday’s renewal will write another chapter of history as part of Saratoga’s July 4th Racing Festival. Eight runners will vie for the $400,000 purse over 2000 meters (10 furlongs) on dirt, with Locked looming as the headline attraction.

Owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm, the son of Gun Runner will look to rebound from his lackluster fourth-place finish in the Alysheba Stakes (G2), a race stolen by stablemate Fierceness (City of Light) in track record time. Prior to that, Locked had dazzled with an 8½-length romp in the Santa Anita Handicap (G1), earning a 109 Beyer and cementing his status as one of the nation’s top distance performers.

“That last race was a bit of a throw-out. This time we’re back at a distance he relishes and where he feels comfortable. We’re hopeful he returns to his best form,” said Aron Wellman of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners.

With José Ortiz aboard from post four, Locked enters with a record of 9-5-1-2 and over $1.6 million in earnings. A past winner at Saratoga over this distance—where he broke his maiden—his entire prep has been geared towards this start, Wellman noted.

Stablemate Antiquarian (post 7), trained by Todd Pletcher, finished second to Mystik Dan (Goldencents) in the Blame Stakes (G3) after capturing the Peter Pan (G3) in 2023. The Preservationist colt appears poised to take another step forward in graded company.

Locked will face stiff competition. Chief among his rivals is the improving Awesome Aaron (post 8), winner of the Pimlico Special (G3) in May, where he defeated fellow entrant Phileas Fogg (Astern). The Practical Joke colt, trained by Norm Casse, was claimed for $40,000 last year and has steadily progressed since.

“We took the blinkers off, and that made a big difference. He’s doing great and has really taken to the Saratoga surface in his breezes,” said Casse.

Phileas Fogg, trained by Gustavo Rodríguez, seeks to rebound from his Pimlico defeat. Winner of the Excelsior and Queens County, he remains dangerous when allowed to dictate terms.

Also in the lineup is Disarm (post 2), representing Steve Asmussen and Winchell Thoroughbreds. Another son of Gun Runner, he finished third in last year’s Travers Stakes (G1) and this season’s Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1). Though off form in the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) last out, his class and experience are undeniable.

Adding further depth is Honor Marie (Honor Code, post 6), who captured the Isaac Murphy Marathon over 2400 meters and was a key player on the 2023 Triple Crown trail, including a start in the Kentucky Derby (G1).

Rounding out the field are multiple G3-placed San Siro (Classic Empire, post 3) and the globetrotting Bendoog (Gun Runner, post 5), previously campaigned abroad for Godolphin and now trained by Bill Mott.