Locked back on the beam with work for possible start in Fountain of Youth

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Locked, among the more highly regarded 3-year-olds on this year’s Kentucky Derby trail, moved a step closer to finally launching his 2024 campaign after working four furlongs in 49.68 seconds, per Daily Racing Form clocker David Norton, in company with the older, Grade 1-placed Expressman Friday at Palm Beach Downs.

With Jose Ortiz aboard Locked and John Velazquez on Expressman, the pair completed their final quarter in 23.76 before galloping out with good energy, five panels in 1:01.82 and six furlongs in 1:15.54. The work was the first since Jan. 26 for Locked, who missed some training and a scheduled start in the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis last weekend at Tampa Bay Downs due to a fever. He has not started since finishing third as the favorite behind stablemate Fierceness in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita on Nov. 3.

Locked is currently under consideration for the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth here on March 2 along with stablemate Born Noble, who also worked Friday at Payson. He breezed four furlongs in 48.19 before galloping out five-eighths in 1:01.25 in company with Triple Espresso, per Norton.

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Both Locked and Born Noble are scheduled to work again next Friday, weather permitting, after which Pletcher will make a final decision regarding his plans for the Fountain of Youth. Entries for the important Derby prep will be drawn on Feb. 24.

Donegal Forever makes return

Pletcher figures to be in the spotlight here on Sunday, when he sends out the impressive but idled maiden winner Donegal Forever as a likely solid favorite in the afternoon’s $91,000 allowance feature for 4-year-olds and up going 1 1/16 miles on the main track.

Donegal Forever, a son of Pioneerof the Nile, did not launch his career until June of his 3-year-old campaign but made a big splash when he finally did. He drew off to a 4 1/4-length allowance win going 1 1/16 miles at Belmont Park despite stumbling badly after the break causing his rider, Irad Ortiz Jr., to lose an iron in the process. Donegal Forever, who received a 90 Beyer Speed Figure for his maiden win, worked twice more after the race before going to the sidelines. He returned to the work tab in early January and has breezed six times, including a pair of bullets in preparation for his return.

Donegal Forever will face six far more experienced rivals, including Smile Mon and Empirestrikesfast, both of whom earned similarly impressive Beyer Figures on their graduation days. Smile Mon received a 90 when he won his maiden by eight lengths in gate-to-wire fashion last summer at Ellis Park, Empirestrikesfast got a 92 after capturing his career debut in game fashion here 11 months ago.

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The remainder of the field includes Knox, second under slightly softer allowance conditions in his 3-year-old finale; Bourbon Resolve, third in each of his last two starts; and the Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained duo of Game Warden and Sara’s Shaman.

Robson gets first winner

Lauren Robson saddled the first winner of her training career, sending out Jabran to win his maiden in Thursday’s second race with jockey John Velazquez aboard.

Robson, who came to the U.S. from England in 2004, had worked as an assistant for such notable horseman as Jonathan Sheppard, Wesley Ward, and Jerry Hollendorfer, and also galloped horses for Pletcher, among others, before finally taking out her own license last year. She began her career following a tragic accident in Ocala that left her husband, former jockey Rudy Delguidice, paralyzed. She currently has two horses in her stable, Jabran, who she owns herself, and the maiden British Empire, who she owns in partnership.

“We came down here for my husband to rehab and I thought since I have these two horses I might as well train them myself,” said Robson. “I’m really happy Johnny was able to ride my first winner since he and his wife, Leona, have been longtime friends.”

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