Study Guide: 2026 San Felipe Stakes

Mar 03, 2026 J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

So Happy wins the San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita. (Photo by Benoit Photo)

The Road to the Kentucky Derby makes a stop at Santa Anita this Saturday for the $200,000 San Felipe (G2), a 1 1/16-mile qualifier worth 50-25-15-10-5 points to the top five finishers.

A promising seven-horse field has turned out for the San Felipe. Let’s meet the entrants:

Flashy Fritz

Start(s): 9
Wins: 1
Place: 2
Show: 1

Owner: Radley Equine
Breeder: Terry C. Lovingier
Trainer: Dan Blacker
Jockey: Adrian Escobedo

Top Speed Rating: (81) when finishing sixth in the King Glorious S. at Los Alamitos.
Total Earnings: $33,580

Sire: Stay Thirsty
Dam: Meghan
Color: Gray/roan

Flashy Fritz has performed well against easier competition in claiming races, but in his lone start at the stakes level, he finished sixth in the King Glorious S. He’ll need improvement to factor against the San Felipe field.

Start the Ride

Start the Ride wins the California Chome Cup Derby at Santa Anita. (Photo by horsephotos.com)

Start(s): 2
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Harris Farms
Breeder: Harris Farms
Trainer: Dan Blacker
Jockey: Armando Ayuso

Top Speed Rating: (88) when winning the California Chrome Cal Cup Derby at Santa Anita.
Total Earnings: $96,750

Sire: Upstart
Dam: Elusive Ride
Color: Dark bay/brown

Start the Ride had no trouble beating fellow California-bred horses in the 1 1/16-mile California Chrome Cal Cup Derby, rallying from off the pace to triumph by 1 3/4 lengths. The San Felipe is a tougher spot, but take note, Cal Cup Derby third-place finisher Pavlovian came back to win the Sunland Park Derby on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, suggesting Start the Ride shouldn’t be underestimated in his Derby trail debut.

Secured Freedom

Secured Freedom ridden by Kazushi Kimura, breaks maiden at Santa Anita Park. (Photo by horsephotos.com)

Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 1

Owner: Leslie A. Amestoy, Pierre Jean Amestoy Jr., and Roger K. Beasley
Breeder: Audley Farm Equine
Trainer: Tim Yakteen
Jockey: Kazushi Kimura

Top Speed Rating: (95) when winning a maiden special weight at Santa Anita.
Total Earnings: $57,600

Sire: Practical Joke
Dam: Securely
Color: Bay

Secured Freedom performed respectably in the one-mile Robert B. Lewis (G3) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby last month, closing from last place to finish third against accomplished rivals Plutarch and Intrepido. Another top-three finish in the San Felipe is well within reach.

Brant

Brant shown winning last summer's Del Mar Futurity (G1) (Photo by Benoit Photo)

Start(s): 3
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 1

Owner: Zedan Racing Stables
Breeder: PTK
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Florent Geroux

Top Speed Rating: (102) when finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar.
Total Earnings: $408,000

Sire: Gun Runner
Dam: Tynan
Color: Gray/roan

Brant is the most accomplished horse in the San Felipe field. He won the seven-furlong Del Mar Futurity (G1) last summer, then finished third by 1 1/2 lengths in the 1 1/16-mile Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1). The latter performance earned a 102 Brisnet Speed rating, the highest number in the San Felipe field. However, Brant hasn’t raced since Oct. 31, and he weakened down the homestretch of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, suggesting 1 1/16 miles might be a little farther than he wants to run.

Ted Noffey stays perfect in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile! 🏆 @spendthriftfarm @ljlmvel

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— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) November 1, 2025

Potente

Potente (outside) Memory (inside) works at Santa Anita Park (Photo by horsephotos.com)

Start(s): 1
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Speedway Stables
Breeder: Pam and Martin Wygod
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Juan Hernandez

Top Speed Rating: (90) when winning a maiden special weight at Santa Anita.
Total Earnings: $42,000

Sire: Into Mischief
Dam: Sweet Sting
Color: Bay

Purchased for $2.4 million at auction, Potente debuted in a six-furlong maiden special weight on Jan. 31 at Santa Anita. He led all the way to triumph by three-quarters of a length, earning a promising 90 Brisnet Speed rating. Fast workouts since then suggest Potente is a logical contender even while stepping up in class and distance for the San Felipe.

So Happy

So Happy wins the San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita. (Photo by Benoit Photo)

Start(s): 2
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Norman Stables and Saints or Sinners
Breeder: Leverett S. Miller
Trainer: Mark Glatt
Jockey: Mike Smith

Top Speed Rating: (101) when winning the San Vicente (G2) at Santa Anita.
Total Earnings: $156,000

Sire: Runhappy
Dam: So Cunning
Color: Bay

So Happy hasn’t tasted defeat in two starts. Last time out, he charged from three lengths behind a fast pace to win the seven-furlong San Vicente (G2) with a powerful 101 Brisnet Speed rating. He’s posted a series of fast workouts since then and looms as a dangerous win threat in his first start over 1 1/16 miles.

Robusta

Robusta wins at Santa Anita. (Photo by Benoit Photo)

Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Calumet Farm
Breeder: Calumet Farm
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Jockey: Emisael Jaramillo

Top Speed Rating: (88) when winning a maiden special weight at Santa Anita.
Total Earnings: $43,000

Sire: Accelerate
Dam: Urbane Legend
Color: Dark bay/brown

After leading all the way to beat a quality field in a one-mile maiden special weight at Santa Anita, Robusta was beaten to the early lead in the Robert B. Lewis and tired to finish sixth. Since Brant, Potente, and even Flashy Fritz like to race up front, Robusta could find it difficult to secure an uncontested lead in the San Felipe, complicating his path to victory.