Potente rallied late to win the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes by a head over 67-1 longshot Robusta at Santa Anita Park, earning 50 Kentucky Derby qualifying points and a 90 Beyer Speed Figure. Third-place So Happy and fourth-place Secured Freedom drew praise from their connections, who reported the horses in good shape and plan to enter them in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 4.
The 2026 San Felipe Stakes, a key prep for the Kentucky Derby on May 2 at Churchill Downs, was contested over 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, on Saturday. Potente, a $2.4 million Into Mischief colt out of Sweet Sting trained by Bob Baffert, delivered a thrilling victory under jockey Juan Hernandez. Tracking the pace set by 4-5 favorite Brant through fractions of :22.88, :46.62, and 1:10.42, Potente surged past Robusta in the final strides to win by a head in 1:42.92, posting a 90 Beyer Speed Figure and securing 50 qualifying points.
Robusta, a Doug O'Neill trainee wearing blinkers for the first time after a sixth in the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes, finished second, 2 1/2 lengths clear of third. O'Neill said from the winner's circle, "He ran huge. The blinkers made the difference... We're going to the Santa Anita Derby and the Kentucky Derby." On Sunday, assistant trainer Leandro Mora confirmed, "[Robusta] is doing great. We're moving on," with plans for the Santa Anita Derby.
Mark Glatt's So Happy, in his two-turn debut, pressed the pace before tiring to third, 2 1/4 lengths behind Potente. Glatt reported Sunday, "He looks good this morning. I think we're likely to look at the Derby, yeah. He ran good. I think it was a solid effort pressing a fairly quick pace and being his first time around two turns." Connections plan to enter him in the Santa Anita Derby.
Tim Yakteen's Secured Freedom, previously third in the Lewis Stakes, stalked from the inside before flattening out to fourth, 3 1/2 lengths back. Yakteen said, "I was expecting a little more from him. He sort of flattened out in the lane. But he's come back in excellent shape. We're looking forward to see if we can get him back on track and see an improved effort," eyeing the Santa Anita Derby. Brant faded to fifth.
The top five finishers earned 50, 25, 15, 10, and 5 points, respectively, toward the Kentucky Derby. Potente improved to 2-for-2. "This horse has a lot of talent," Hernandez said. "He's big, he's strong... It's only his second start and he's improving."
Baffert noted, "I knew the pace was going to be hot. I think Brant was a work away from this race... Potente is bred to go that far." He plans one more prep for Potente, potentially the Santa Anita Derby.
Potente paid $18.20 to win, $8.40 to place, and $5.00 to show; Robusta $33.60-$9.00; So Happy $2.40 to show. The race underscored Baffert's dominance in Derby preps, with three of the last six Derby winners having run in the San Felipe.
