GII San Felipe: Secured Freedom a go after Saturday work
At 0h02, on March 2, 2026 • By Santa Anita Park
Trainer Tim Yakteen confirmed Secured Freedom will be entered in next Saturday’s Grade II San Felipe Stakes for 3-year-olds following a sharp work Saturday at Santa Anita.
Secured Freedom was timed working five furlongs in 59.6 seconds.
“It was a nice drill,” Yakteen said. “He had company the first half mile, finished up strong. We’re on track.”
A colt by Practical Joke, Secured Freedom exits a third-place finish in the GIII Robert B. Lewis going one mile on Feb. 7 at Santa Anita. The Lewis was his first time facing winners and first-time racing around two turns.
Also working towards an expected start in the San Felipe was Intrepido for trainer Jeff Mullins. Intrepido, who was second in the Lewis in his 3-year-old debut, drilled five furlongs in 1:02.2. By Maximus Mischief, Intrepido last year won the GI American Pharoah at Santa Anita prior to a fifth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar.
Working for trainer Bob Baffert were San Felipe nominees Boyd and Buetane. Both were clocked going six furlongs in 1:12.2. Boyd, a colt by Violence, hasn’t started since Nov. 29 when winning the 6 ½-furlong Ed Brown Stakes at Churchill Downs to improve to 2-for-2.
For Buetane, it was his second work since finishing third in the GII Southwest on Feb. 6 at Oaklawn. Also nominated by Baffert to the San Felipe are Brant, Desert Gate, Litmus Test and Potente. Working for trainer Doug O’Neill was Robusta, who finished sixth in the Lewis when facing winners for the first time. By Accelerate, Robusta drilled five furlongs in 1:02.2.
