(Secured Freedom / Benoit Photo & Courtesy of Santa Anita Park)

From the Santa Anita Park Media Team / Victor Ryan:

G2 SAN FELIPE: SECURED FREEDOM A GO AFTER SATURDAY WORK

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.

Entries for the San Felipe, which is the final major prep for the GI Santa Anita Derby on April 4, will be taken on Monday.

BRITISH ISLES CONFIRMED FOR GI SANTA ANITA HANDICAP

The Grade I Santa Anita Handicap next Saturday will include British Isles, trainer Richard Baltas said after the 5-year-old gelding worked five furlongs in 59.80 seconds Saturday at Santa Anita. “Looks like that’s the plan,” Baltas said of the Big ‘Cap.

British Isles most recently was fifth in the GI Pegasus World Cup on Jan. 24 at Santa Anita. Prior to that effort, British Isles was narrowly beaten by Grade I winner Nevada Beach in the GIII Native Diver in November at Del Mar.

Other notables nominated to the 1 ¼-mile Big ‘Cap are Florida-based Skippylongstocking, who won the Pegasus World Cup for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.; GII San Pasqual winner Westwood for trainer Peter Eurton; Getaway Car, who was second in the Westwood for trainer Bob Baffert; and 2024 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Full Serrano for trainer John Sadler.

Last year, Skippylongstocking shipped to Santa Anita and won the GII Hollywood Gold Cup, also at 1 ¼ miles.

JARAMILLO WINS 4 RACES FRIDAY, NOW 2nd IN STANDINGS

Jockey Emisael Jaramillo’s move to Santa Anita Park this winter from his longtime base at Gulfstream Park is proving to be a success. On Friday at Santa Anita, Jaramillo won four races from five mounts on a nine-race card to vault into a tie for second in the jockey’s standings.

Jaramillo won the second race aboard Maniatic ($16.80) for trainer Manuel Badilla, the fifth race on Mayacama ($6.60) for trainer Jeff Mullins, the eighth race with Cherokee Nation ($4.40) for trainer Bob Baffert and the ninth race aboard Biggiebiggiebiggie ($5.20) for trainer Doug O’Neill. Jaramillo now has 26 wins from 133 mounts (20 percent) at the Classic Meet, which is tied with Kazushi Kimura for second and just one win shy of top jockey Juan Hernandez (27 wins).

The move west by Jaramillo to Santa Anita was largely facilitated by agent Tom Knust and trainer Doug O’Neill. His presence has also O’Neill lead the trainer’s standings with 21 wins from 96 starters (22 percent).

“Things have gone beyond our expectations,” Knust said. “Usually, it takes a new rider a little while to get going. We did have a big advantage of Doug putting us on some live horses. Then once other people see you are winning races, things have snowballed from there.”

Jaramillo, 49, is the all-time leading jockey in his native Venezuela. He’s been riding regularly in the U.S. since 2015.

FINISH LINES: Cherokee Nation earned a 100 Beyer Speed Figure for his blowout victory against maidens going one mile Friday, Daily Racing Form’s Brad Free reported. Cherokee Nation romped by 10 lengths in a time of 1:34.50. Trained by Bob Baffert, the 3-year-old colt by Not This Time previously finished fifth the GIII Robert B. Lewis going one mile on Feb. 7….Saturday’s $1 Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 starts at 1:34 p.m. PT with the 11th race from Gulfstream Park…The $1 Sunset Pick Six starts at 2:05 p.m. with the 12th race from Gulfstream.