The San Felipe Stakes is as old as Santa Anita itself, and if 2025 winner and Preakness victor Journalism was any indication, as strong as ever. The 1-1/16 miles race will be part of the Santa Anita Handicap Day undercard on Saturday and features an eclectic field of stretch-outs, come-backers and state-bred crossovers.
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Let’s meet the contenders for the San Felipe Stakes (Race 8):
#1-FLASHY FRITZ: Claimed for $25,000 last out and moved to the Dan Blacker barn, this 1-for-9 gelding by Travers winner Stay Thirsty will be seriously tested for class. Cal-bred finished sixth in the King Glorious Stakes at Los Alamitos in December in his only prior stakes try.
#2-START THE RIDE: Won the Cal Cup Derby at this 1-1/16 miles trip vs. state-bred in his first official start. More fancied of the 2 Dan Blacker trainees entered, note he was declared a non-starter in what was to be his November debut at Del Mar due to an issue with the assistant starter. Armando Ayuso returns to pilot this colt by Upstart.
#3-SECURED FREEDOM: The G3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes third-place finisher looks to give trainer Tim Yakteen his second San Felipe victory in 4 years (Practical Move in 2023). This son of Practical Joke finished with interest in the Lewis following a rallying sprint maiden win in his second start. Regular rider Kazushi Kimura will be aboard the colt who has worked well in the weeks since the Lewis.
#4-BRANT (pictured): Expected favorite makes his 3-year-old return and first afternoon appearance since finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. He was 8-5 second choice to Juvenile winner Ted Noffey that day over this 1-1/16 miles trip. All 3 starts have come at Del Mar, including a front-running score in the G1 Del Mar Futurity at 7 furlongs. Florent Geroux replaces Flavien Prat aboard this $3 million Gun Runner colt. Bob Baffert owns a record 9 San Felipe scores, most recently Imagination in 2024 and including the likes of Point Given and Authentic.
#5-POTENTE: Second of 2 Baffert chances for a record-padding 10th San Felipe trophy, this $2.4 million colt exits a debut maiden sprint win Jan. 31. The Into Mischief colt was smoked to 3-5 odds in that only appearance but battled wire-to-wire to win by three-quarters of a length. He’ll be tested for distance, class and foundation under Juan Hernandez, who replaces Kazushi Kimura. Potente is the most lightly raced member of the cast.
#6-SO HAPPY: Established dasher by champion sprinter Runhappy looks to test his distance mettle for trainer Mark Glatt. He rallied to win his debut at Del Mar at 38-1 odds and employed similar tactics to upend Baffert’s favored Buetane in the Jan. 10 G2 San Vicente over 7 furlongs. He’s been working fast in recent weeks and will have Mike Smith aboard as in his previous starts.
#7-ROBUSTA: Doug O’Neill trainee has won 1 of 3 starts and comes into the San Felipe off a non-threat sixth of 7 in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes at 36-1 odds. He’ll try blinkers on in hopes of shaking things up and being more a part of the pace as he was in his second-start maiden mile wire job. Jockey Emisael Jaramillo has been riding lights out since arriving at Santa Anita this season and will be back in the saddle of this Accelerate colt.
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