Photo:

Shamela Hanley / Eclipse Sportswire

Locked, winner of an optional-claiming allowance race last month in his first start of the year, worked Thursday morning at Belmont for trainer Todd Pletcher.

The 3-year-old Gun Runner colt won the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity last year, followed by a third-place effort in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. He was given time off because of a knee injury and returned to training in August.

Pletcher told Horse Racing Nation on Thursday that the Cigar Mile (G2) will be his next stop, with the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) on Jan. 25 “definitely in play.”

Thusrday morning at Belmont Park, Locked breezed four furlongs in 50.42 seconds, 38th fastest of 52 at the distance.

Locked was one of 12 graded-stakes winners with published works Thursday.

Express Train (Union Rags), a Grade 1 winner (2022 Santa Anita Handicap), worked five furlongs in 59.4 seconds at Del Mar on Thursday morning. It was the fastest of three works at the distance. His previous work was eight days ago going four furlongs at Del Mar. In his last start he placed third in the San Diego Handicap (G2) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Del Mar on July 27 for trainer John Shirreffs.

Locked (Gun Runner), a Grade 1 winner (2023 Breeders’ Futurity), worked four furlongs in 50.4 seconds at Belmont Park on Thursday morning. It was the 38th fastest of 52 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Belmont Park. In his last start he won an allowance race going seven furlongs on the main track at Belmont at the Big A on Oct. 19 for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Get Smokin (Get Stormy), a three-time Grade 2 winner (2024 United Nations, 2023 Kentucky Turf Cup, 2020 Hill Prince), worked four furlongs in 50.0 seconds at Woodbine on Thursday morning. It was the 10th fastest of 16 works at the distance. His previous work was six days ago going four furlongs at Woodbine. In his last start he placed fifth in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1) going 1 1/2 miles on the turf at Belmont at the Big A on Sept. 28 for trainer Mark Casse.

Crupi (Curlin), a Grade 2 winner (2024 Suburban), worked four furlongs in 50.4 seconds at Belmont Park on Thursday morning. It was the 38th fastest of 52 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Belmont Park. In his last start he placed third in the Woodward (G2) going 1 1/8 miles on the main track at Belmont at the Big A on Sept. 28 for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Dicey Mo Chara (Adaay), a Grade 2 winner (2022 San Gabriel), worked five furlongs in 1:02.2 at Santa Anita on Thursday morning. It was the 18th fastest of 21 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going five furlongs at Santa Anita. In his last start he placed fourth in the John Henry Turf Championship (G2) going 1 1/4 miles on the turf at Santa Anita on Sept. 28 for trainer Leonard Powell.

Hoosier Philly (Into Mischief), a Grade 2 winner (2022 Golden Rod), worked four furlongs in 47.4 seconds at Fair Grounds on Thursday morning. It was the third fastest of 31 works at the distance. This was her first work since her last race. In her last start she placed seventh in the Locust Grove (G2) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Churchill Downs on Sept. 14 for trainer Tom Amoss.

Seal Team (War Front), a Grade 2 winner (2023 Twilight Derby), worked six furlongs in 1:13.2 at Del Mar on Thursday morning. It was the fastest of three works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going five furlongs at Del Mar. In his last start he placed fifth in the Lure going one mile on the turf at Santa Anita on Oct. 19 for trainer Richard Mandella.

Jaxon Traveler (Munnings), a two-time Grade 3 winner (2024 Whitmore, 2022 Maryland Sprint), worked four furlongs in 48.7 seconds at Remington Park on Thursday morning. It was the eighth fastest of 34 works at the distance. His previous work was 12 days ago going four furlongs at Remington Park. In his last start he won the David M. Vance going six furlongs on the main track at Remington Park on Sept. 29 for trainer Steve Asmussen.

Runninsonofagun (Gun Runner), a two-time Grade 3 winner (2024 Bold Ruler, 2022 Bold Ruler), worked four furlongs in 48.4 seconds at Belmont Park on Thursday morning. It was the ninth fastest of 52 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he won the Bold Ruler (G3) going six furlongs on the main track at Belmont at the Big A on Oct. 26 for trainer John Toscano Jr.

Cupid’s Claws (Kitten’s Joy), a Grade 3 winner (2020 Tokyo City Cup), worked four furlongs in 50.2 seconds at Woodbine on Thursday morning. It was the 13th fastest of 16 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he won a claiming race going 1 1/16 miles on the synthetic at Woodbine on Nov. 1 for trainer Brad Dunslow.

Like the King (Palace Malice), a Grade 3 winner (2021 Jeff Ruby Steaks), worked four furlongs in 48.0 seconds at Casse Training Center on Thursday morning. It was the faster of two works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Casse Training Center. In his last start he placed ninth in the Singspiel (G3) going 1 3/8 miles on the turf at Woodbine on Oct. 5 for trainer Mark Casse.

Nooni (Win Win Win), a Grade 3 winner (2024 Sorrento), worked four furlongs in 48.8 seconds at Santa Anita on Thursday morning. It was the 14th fastest of 20 works at the distance. This was her first work since her last race. In her last start she placed sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Del Mar on Nov. 1 for trainer Bob Baffert.

Wednesday

Three graded-stakes winners worked Wednesday.

Chi Town Lady (Verrazano), a Grade 1 winner (2022 Test), worked five furlongs in 1:00.6 at Keeneland on Wednesday morning. It was the third fastest of 11 works at the distance. Her previous work was 10 days ago going five furlongs at Keeneland. In her last start she placed sixth in the Ballerina Handicap (G1) going seven furlongs on the main track at Saratoga on Aug. 24 for trainer Wesley Ward.

Red Route One (Gun Runner), a Grade 2 winner (2024 New Orleans Classic), worked five furlongs in 1:01.2 at Churchill Downs on Wednesday morning. It was the fourth fastest of 12 works at the distance. His previous work was 10 days ago going five furlongs at Churchill Downs. In his last start he won the Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap (G3) going 1 1/8 miles on the main track at Prairie Meadows on July 6 for trainer Steve Asmussen.

Life’s an Audible (Audible), a Grade 3 winner (2024 Sweetest Chant), worked four furlongs in 50.3 seconds at Gulfstream Park on Wednesday morning. It was the eighth fastest of 10 works at the distance. Her previous work was nine days ago going four furlongs at Gulfstream Park. In her last start she placed second in the Herecomesthebride (G3) going one mile on the turf at Gulfstream Park on March 2 for trainer Todd Pletcher.