Freedom's Not Free Catches Sumter in Daytona Stakes

Freedom's Not Free, a stakes-quality 3-year-old turf horse last year, has not lost a step as a 4-year-old. Returning June 13 following a layoff of more than nine months, the talented Omaha Beach colt picked up a third stakes win and his first in graded company in taking the $103,000 Daytona Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita Park. Cutting back in distance, he kicked into gear late to nail Sumter by a nose in the downhill 6 1/2-furlong turf sprint. First Peace was third. Juan Hernandez piloted the winner, who raced in seventh before passing six horses in the final furlong. Freedom's Not Free ($12.20) was timed in 1:12.49 for the distance, which followed splits of :21.84 and :43.79 set by Modus Bestia, who faded to last in the field of 11. "Crossing the dirt, my horse switched leads and he took off," Hernandez said. Freedom's Not Free, bred in Kentucky by Cove Springs, is a dark bay/brown colt out of the Tiz Wonderful mare Wonderfuladventure. Mark Glatt trains him for owners Blinkers On Racing Stable, Janlois Racing, Valinor Racing Stable, Tom Corbett, Andy Kwan, and Jay Lester Wagner. Blinkers On Racing Stable purchased him for $300,000 from Top Line Sales' consignment to the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. Freedom's Not Free is the second graded stakes winner of 2026 for Omaha Beach, who stands for $75,000 at Spendthrift Farm in Kentucky.