Knee Injury Sidelines Locked from Triple Crown

TDN Rising Star Locked, last year’s GI Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity winner, has suffered a minor knee injury, preventing his participation in the Triple Crown races, though the injury is not career-ending, with plans to return for major races later in the year.

– ‣ “TDN Rising Star” Locked, a promising horse who won last year’s GI Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity, has suffered a knee injury, preventing him from participating in the Triple Crown races. The injury involves a minor ligament fray in the upper part of the left knee but is not considered career-threatening.
– ‣ The injury was detected thanks to state-of-the-art technology and the attentiveness of trainer Todd Pletcher and his team, who noticed a change in Locked’s training behavior. No surgery is required for the injury; however, it necessitates time off from racing for healing, affecting the horse’s participation in classic races.
– ‣ Despite the setback, the managing partner of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Aron Wellman, remains optimistic about Locked’s future in racing. The goal is to return for major 3-year-old races in the summer, including the GI Travers S. at Saratoga, maintaining high hopes for the horse’s potential despite missing the Kentucky Derby and other Triple Crown races.

Thanks to state of the art technology, we’ve identified a minor ligament injury in Locked’s left knee. Sadly, the Derby Dream is over, but thankfully @PletcherRacing caught the issue early and Locked will come back strong. The horse always comes first! #BelieveBig pic.twitter.com/o0ArPyPEd6

— Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners (@EclipseTBP) March 8, 2024

‘TDN Rising Star’ Locked, a prodigy of Gun Runner and last year’s victor at the GI Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity, has hit a snag. A knee injury’s cropped up, sidelining him from the much-anticipated Triple Crown races. It’s a setback, but not a career-ender.

David Grening of the Daily Racing Form broke the news. It sent ripples through the racing community, for sure. Aron Wellman, the big cheese at Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and co-owner of Locked, shed some light on the situation. He mentioned it’s a “very minor ligament fray in the upper part of the left knee.” Sounds technical, doesn’t it?

Locked was all set for a dazzling 3-year-old debut at the GIII Sam F. Davis S. at Tampa Bay Downs come February 10. But, fate had other plans – a fever got in the way. Then came Plan B: the GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth S. at Gulfstream. Yet, trainer Todd Pletcher pulled the plug last minute due to training concerns that morning.

Wellman elaborated, “The morning of the Fountain of Youth, he didn’t train like he normally does.” It seems Locked was off his game, which was unusual for him. Pletcher’s keen eye and decision not to run him was praised by Wellman. It’s a testament to the trainer’s attention to detail.

Following the scratch, Locked was whisked away to Dr. John Madison in Ocala. There, the injury was spotted. “We trained him the day after the Fountain of Youth and he was better, but considering his profile and importance we decided not to take any chances,” Wellman explained. No surgery needed, just time for healing. Yet, it means a pause on the Classic trail dreams.

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners tweeted out their gratitude towards @PletcherRacing for catching the issue early. They remain hopeful for Locked’s strong comeback. The tweet was a mix of disappointment and optimism, a rollercoaster of emotions.

Now, the focus shifts to the major 3-year-old races this summer, including the GI Travers S. at Saratoga. Locked’s journey so far has been nothing short of remarkable, clinching third in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and setting high hopes for his 3-year-old season.

Wellman reflected on the dream of having a Kentucky Derby contender. “Locked fit that profile to a tee,” he said, recalling past experiences with Derby contenders like Animal Kingdom. The setback is a “punch in the gut,” but the spirit remains unbroken.

In the grand tapestry of horse racing, setbacks like these are but minor stitches. The journey continues, with hopes and dreams riding on the backs of these magnificent creatures. Here’s to Locked’s swift recovery and the thrilling races that lie ahead.