Lockdown's first major test to come in Busanda

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – In a span of three weeks at Aqueduct, trainer Bill Mott sent out a pair of good-looking 2-year-old filly maiden winners. While Mott took the ultra-impressive Elate to south Florida with him, the Hall of Fame trainer left the well-bred Lockdown in New York for the time being.

Lockdown, a full sister to the multiple Grade 1 stakes winner Close Hatches, worked a half-mile in 50.60 seconds Thursday morning over the Belmont Park training track. She is being pointed to the $100,000 Busanda Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Aqueduct on Jan. 15.

Lockdown, by First Defence, finished second sprinting in her debut on Nov. 4. She stretched out to 1 1/16 miles on Dec. 17, and after being headed by Devine Union around the turn, Lockdown edged clear under Jose Ortiz to win by 3 1/2 lengths.

“She was pretty green her first race, and even her second one she waited a little bit when she made the lead,” said Leana Willaford, the Belmont-based assistant for Mott. “Jose said he learned a little bit about her. Rather than have an explosive turn of foot, she needs a little time to get going, where her sister was real sharp.”

Close Hatches won the first two starts of her career at Gulfstream Park before winning the Grade 2 Gazelle over Aqueduct’s main track to enter the 2013 Kentucky Oaks undefeated. She finished seventh in that race. Close Hatches went on to win four Grade 1 races: the Mother Goose and Cotillion at age 3 and the Ogden Phipps and Personal Ensign at 4.

The Busanda and the $150,000 Busher on Feb. 25 lead to the Gazelle on April 8. All three races offer qualifying points toward the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on May 5.