Secured Freedom cruised to the front and hung on to win the Affirmed Stakes, Benoit Photo
Santa Anita Park Press
ARCADIA, CA — After being limited to minor shares in three straight graded stakes, Secured Freedom received a touch of class relief Monday and responded with a breakthrough victory in the $100,000 Affirmed Stakes for 3-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita.
Sent off the 6-5 favorite, Secured Freedom swept to the lead under Hall of Famer Joel Rosario just inside the quarter pole and finished best of all to prevail by 1 ¾ lengths over One More Freud (11-1). Finishing third was 35-1 longshot Constitution Andi. He was followed across the wire by Decisive Win (2-1), Litmus Test (5-2), Mo Koko (17-1) and Court of Appeal (61-1).
Secured Freedom was some seven lengths off the pace when Mo Koko posted a half-mile split in 45.47 seconds. He won in a time of 1:45.32.
“They took the blinkers off today and there was plenty of speed in the race. I was just hoping to settle and make a run,” said Rosario, who was riding Secured Freedom for the first time.
By Practical Joke out of the Uncle Mo mare Securely, Secured Freedom is trained by Tim Yakteen for owners Leslie A. Amestoy, Pierre Jean Amestoy Jr. and Roger K. Beasley.
“He’s a big horse and he’s just late developing mentally,” Yakteen said. “I think today was a big step forward. We took the blinkers off of him, he had a strong pace to run at, and Joel ended up taking advantage of all of that. We will regroup after this and figure it out. There are plenty of spots out there for 3-year-olds, we will just go from there.”
In three prior starts this year, Secured Freedom finished third in the GIII Robert B. Lewis in February at Santa Anita, and fourth in both the GII San Felipe at Santa Anita and the GII Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs on the Kentucky Derby undercard May 2.
Secured Freedom paid $4.60, $2.20 and $2.10. One More Freud, ridden by Mike Smith for trainer Bob Hess. Jr., returned $5.20 and $3.40. Constitution Andi, with Victor Espinoza aboard for trainer Mike Puype, paid $4.60.
Live racing resumes Sept. 25 for the Autumn meet. Santa Anita’s Paddock Room will be open for simulcast wagering Thursday thru Sunday at 9:30 A.M.
$100,000 AFFIRMED STAKES QUOTES
JOCKEY QUOTES
JOEL ROSARIO, SECURED FREEDOM, WINNER: “They took the blinkers off today and there was plenty of speed in the race, so I was just hoping to settle and make a run. He got it done.”
TRAINER QUOTES
TIM YAKTEEN, SECURED FREEDOM, WINNER: “He’s a big horse and he’s just late developing mentally. I think today was a big step forward. We took the blinkers off of him, he had a strong pace to run at and Joel ended up taking advantage of all of that. We will regroup after this and figure it out. There are plenty of spots out there for 3-year-olds, we will just go from there.”
NOTES: The winning owners are Leslie A. Amestoy, Pierre Jean Amestoy, Jr., and Roger K. Beasley.
