Secured Freedom (Practical Joke), last seen finishing third to the now-sidelined Plutarch (Into Mischief) in the GIII Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita on Feb. 7, worked five furlongs in :59.60 (3/52) over the local main track Saturday morning and will make his next start in the Mar. 7 GII San Felipe Stakes, trainer Tim Yakteen said.
“It was a nice drill,” Yakteen said. “He had company the first half mile, finished up strong. We're on track.”
A $110,000 Keeneland September yearling, the Virginia-bred was fourth to future GII San Vicente Stakes hero So Happy (Runhappy) on Del Mar debut Nov. 22 and broke his maiden by 4 1/2 lengths in Arcadia Dec. 28. The Lewis was his first try at two turns.
The bay colt is raced by Pierre Amestoy, Jr., his wife Leslie and Roger K. Beasley, who also campaigned 2023 GI Santa Anita Derby winner, the ill-fated Practical Move (Practical Joke).
Also breezing towards the San Felipe was Lewis runner-up and 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Intrepido (Maximus Mischief), who went five-eighths of a mile in 1:02.20 for trainer Jeff Mullins.
Taking to the track for Bob Baffert were 'TDN Rising Stars' presented by Hagyard Boyd (Violence) and Buetane (Tiz the Law), who each went six furlongs in 1:12.20 (2/4). Boyd is unraced since winning the Nov. 29 Ed Brown Stakes at Churchill, while Buetane is exiting a third in the GIII Southwest Stakes Feb. 6.
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