High-Profile Sophomores Lead Busy Santa Anita Work Tab

Intrepido and Secured Freedom both worked Feb. 21 for the first time since the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park Feb. 7. They were among several high-profile 3-year-olds on the Santa Anita work tab. Intrepido, who was second in the Lewis, worked 4 furlongs in :48 4/5 under jockey Hector Berrios. Trained by Jeff Mullins, Intrepido finished three-quarters of a length back of Plutarch in the 1-mile Lewis in his 3-year-old debut. "He didn't do much. We didn't want much," Mullins said of the drill. Mullins added he has not decided if Intrepido will return in the March 7 San Felipe Stakes (G2) or wait for the April 4 Santa Anita Derby (G1). Last year, Intrepido—a colt by Maximus Mischief—won the American Pharoah Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita before a fifth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar. Secured Freedom, who was third in the Lewis in his two-turn debut, worked 4 furlongs in :48 for trainer Tim Yakteen. By Practical Joke, Secured Freedom rallied from last to complete the trifecta in the Lewis. He previously broke his maiden going 6 1/2 furlongs Dec. 28 at Santa Anita. Secured Freedom is also a candidate to return in the San Felipe. "We are considering the San Felipe. He is on schedule," Yakteen said. "We will make a final decision next week." Working for trainer Bob Baffert were 3-year-olds Brant, Boyd, Litmus Test, and Buetane. Brant and Boyd both worked 6 furlongs from the gate. Brant was timed in 1:11 4/5 while Boyd was clocked in 1:12. Brant, a $3 million son of Gun Runner, hasn't started since finishing third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Boyd, by Violence, is a perfect 2-for-2. He most recently won the Ed Brown Stakes going 6 1/2 furlongs Nov. 29 at Churchill Downs. Litmus Test worked 4 furlongs in :47 4/5. Winner of the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) in December, the Nyquist colt is targeting the San Felipe for his 3-year-old debut. Buetane returned to the tab after finishing third in the Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park Feb. 6. The colt by Tiz the Law worked 4 furlongs in :47 4/5. Also working for Baffert were Splendora, Explora, and Usha. Splendora returned to the tab after winning the D. Wayne Lukas Stakes (G2) Feb. 7. Winner of last year's Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1), Splendora worked 5 furlongs in 1:01 1/5. Explora returned to the tab after a second-place finish in the Las Virgenes Stakes for 3-year-old fillies Feb. 8. By Blame, Explora drilled 5 furlongs in :59. It was the fastest of 43 works at the distance. Usha, winner of the La Brea Stakes (G1) Dec. 28, worked 5 furlongs in 1:00 1/5.