Lockdown Cruises in Busanda | NYRA
Stakes Recap
Jan 15, 2017
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Lockdown Cruises in Busanda

by Najja Thompson



 Under a perfectly measured ride by Kendrick Carmouche, Juddmonte Farms' Lockdown cruised to a 2 ½-length victory on Sunday at Aqueduct Racetrack in the 44th running of the $100,000 Busanda for 3-year-old fillies.


Breaking from post position 5 as the 2-1 second choice, Lockdown stalked 3-5 post-time favorite Libby's Tale from second position as Libby's Tail led the field of five through fractions of 24.11 seconds for the opening quarter-mile with a half going in 48.33.

At the five-sixteenths pole, Lockdown was set down, overtook the leader and extend away comfortably to the wire, completing the 1 mile and 70 yards distance in a winning time of 1:44.75

"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," said Carmouche. "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'lll take you home from there.

With the victory, her second consecutive from three lifetime starts after breaking her maiden at the Big A on December 17, Lockdown returned $6.60 for a $2 win wager while boosting her career earnings to $108,000. The win also garnered the daughter of First Defence 10 qualifying points to the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks as the top four finishers of the Busanda picked up 10-4-2-1 points towards the race respectively.

"The plan coming in was to have her in stalking position and take it to them when the time came," said LeAnna Willaford, assistant to Mott. "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."

Following Libby's Tail who held on for second was No Sweat, Frank's Folly and Sand Shark.

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