So Happy and Secured Freedom, the respective third- and fourth-place finishers in the March 7 San Felipe Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park, will likely continue on to the April 4 Santa Anita Derby (G1), their respective trainers said March 8.
So Happy, trained by Mark Glatt, was making his two-turn debut in the 1 1/16-mile San Felipe. He finished 2 1/4 lengths back of winner Potente. Splitting that pair in second was Robusta, a 67-1 longshot who was beaten just a head by Potente.
So Happy pressed a lively pace set by Brant—who wound up weakening to fifth—and was just a half-length back of Robusta at the eighth pole before both were overhauled by Potente.
"He looks good this morning," Glatt said of So Happy. "I think we're likely to look at the (Santa Anita) Derby, yeah. He ran good. I think it was a solid effort pressing a fairly quick pace and being his first time around two turns. I think it will be interesting to see the second time around two turns now having that experience. We'll see if he can improve."
Potente, trained by Bob Baffert, was making just his second start in the San Felipe and first around two turns. A $2.4 million colt by Into Mischief , Potente won in a time of 1:42.92. and earned 50 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby (G1) with the win. Baffert said Potente would have one more start before the May 2 Kentucky Derby (G1), also possibly the Santa Anita Derby.
Robusta's trainer, Doug O'Neill, said from the winner's circle that the colt by Accelerate would go on to the Santa Anita Derby. He previously finished sixth in the Feb. 7 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) going 1 mile. In the San Felipe, Robusta was outfitted in blinkers for the first time. O'Neill said the equipment change "made the difference."
On Sunday morning, O'Neill's assistant Leandro Mora reported Robusta, "Is doing great. We're moving on."
Secured Freedom, trained by Tim Yakteen, stalked the pace while down inside and finished evenly. He was beaten about 3 1/2 lengths.
"I was expecting a little more from him. He sort of flattened out in the lane," Yakteen said Sunday. "It could be some maturity involved and being down inside. But he's come back in excellent shape. We're looking forward to see if we can get him back on track and see an improved effort."
By Practical Joke , Secured Freedom previously was third in the Robert B. Lewis.
HERNANDEZ WINS 4 INCLUDING 3 STAKES ON Birthday; HERERRA GETS A G1
Jockey Juan Hernandez had a monster day at Santa Anita. On his 34th birthday, no less. Hernandez, a native of Veracruz, Mexico, won four races on Saturday's 11-race program, including three of the four graded stakes.
Hernandez's three stakes wins came in the B. Wayne Hughes Beholder Mile (G1) with Splendora and San Felipe aboard Potente, both for trainer Bob Baffert; and the Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G2T) with longshot Final Boss for trainer John Sadler.
Hernandez had a quiet evening after the massive day and was back out early Sunday morning at Santa Anita working horses.
"It was a great day. Maybe I can do something Monday or Tuesday to celebrate," Hernandez said.
Also on Saturday, fellow reinsman Diego Herrera achieved a career milestone. In the Santa Anita Handicap, Herrera piloted British Isles to victory for his first grade 1 win in a Thoroughbred race.
"I don't even have any words, it is just such a blessing," Herrera said from the winner's circle. "Thank God that everything came together today."
Herrera, who turns 22 in May, is from nearby Inglewood. He got his start riding Quarter Horses at Los Alamitos in 2021. In 2022, Herrera won the grade 1 Charger Bar for Quarter Horses at Los Alamitos aboard Kiss Thru Fire. His only previous Thoroughbred graded-stakes wins were last year's Cecil B. DeMille Stakes (G3T) aboard Unrivaled Time and the 2024 Autumn Miss Stakes (G3T) with Watchtower. Entering Sunday, Herrera had won 257 Thoroughbred races with earnings of more than $12.2 million.
BIG CAP ATTENDANCE HIGHEST SINCE '19; ON-TRACK HANDLE UP 11%
Attendance and on-track handle were both up for Saturday's Santa Anita Handicap Day program.
The 11-race card, which featured four graded stakes including the historic Big Cap, attracted a crowd of 19,112, the highest Big Cap Day attendance since 2019. It was an almost 9% increase from last year's on-track crowd of 16,862.
Handle on-track Saturday was $1,776,808, an 11% jump from 2025's total of $1,604,724.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
