Juddmonte Farms’ homebred Lockdown captured her stakes debut when taking the $98,000 Busanda Stakes at Aqueduct by 2 1/2 lengths on Sunday.
The Bill Mott-trained daughter of First Defence tracked 3-5 pacesetter Libby’s Tail through a half-mile in :24.11 and :48.33. Lockdown drifted out to the three path but moved up under jockey Kendrick Carmouche to take over, pulling away late to finish a mile and 70 yards in 1:44.75 on the fast track.
Lockdown was sent off the 2-1 second choice and paid $6.60 for the win. Libby’s Tail came in second, 3 1/2 lengths up on No Sweat, who finished 10 1/2 lengths in front of Frank’s Folly. Sand Shark rounded out the field in fifth, just missing fourth by a neck.
The top four were awarded 10-4-2-1 points, respectively, toward a start in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) as the Busanda is part of the Road to the Kentucky Oaks.
Lockdown is now 3-2-1-0 in her career and has banked $108,000 in lifetime earnings. The Kentucky-bred miss ran second in her initial start over Aqueduct’s main track on November 4 before returning December 17 on the inner dirt to break her maiden by 3 1/2 lengths. She was given first-time Lasix for the Busanda.
Lockdown is out of the winning Storm Cat mare Rising Tornado, making her a full sister to 2014 champion older female Close Hatches. Her fourth dam is blue-hen mare and Broodmare of the Year Best in Show.
BUSANDA QUOTES
LeAnna Willaford, assistant trainer Lockdown, winner
“The plan coming in was to have her in stalking position and take it to them when the time came. Thankfully, everything worked as planned. She’s been training real well, and I have to think eventually she’ll end up in Florida. We’ll see where she goes from there after talking to the Juddmonte people.”
Kendrick Carmouche, jockey Lockdown, winner
“With the way Bill Mott trains horses, he can get her to make the distance. She has such a long stride, you just have to time her run and let her get into her stride and she’ll take you home from there.
“I just put pressure on the gate to the wire and I had to move around the turn to make sure I held her steady.
“Hopefully the team stays together and I get to stay on her.”
