Photo:

Jon Putman / Eclipse Sportswire

Locked authoritatively validated his 3-5 favoritism in Saturday’s Grade 1, $300,000 Santa Anita Handicap, drawing off in the stretch of the 1 1/4-mile race to record the easiest of wins over seven overmatched rivals.

Ridden by Jose Ortiz and trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, Locked made his second start of the year a memorable one after finishing a well-beaten second to White Abarrio in the Pegasus World Cup (G1) on Jan. 25 at Gulfstream Park.

Adding blinkers, Locked raced a bit closer to the pace than customary. He bided his time from the outside in the early stages of the Big ‘Cap as the Bob Baffert-trained Mirahmadi edged clear of Midnight Mammoth to set fractions of 23.46 and 47.24 seconds through the first half-mile

Express Train, meanwhile, was close up on the inside and made an early move to try to join Mirahmadi on the backstretch before backing off again.

But Hector Berrios, aboard 2022 Big ‘Cap winner Express Train, came again at Mirahmadi along the rail as the field rounded the far turn after a mile in 1:36.44 and quickly pulled clear at the top of the stretch.

He had only a few moments to enjoy his position, as Locked was making a dramatic move on the outside and quickly collared the new front-runner.

Locked poured it on through the stretch, drawing well clear of Express Train while under a hand ride as Hit Show rallied for third. The winner crossed under the wire in 2:01.71 while geared down.

The winner, owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm, returned $3.40 on a $2 win ticket and keyed a $15.40 payout on a $1 exacta.

The victory was the first in the Big ‘Cap for both Pletcher and Ortiz.