Intrepido, Robusta and Secured Freedom Breeze Ahead of Robert B. Lewis

Intrepido, Robusta and Secured Freedom turned in the sharpest drills on Santa Anita’s busy work tab, cementing their roles as the likely headliners for the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis (one mile) scheduled for Feb. 7. The trio’s timed breezes provide a clear early look at the pecking order among California-based 3-year-olds as they chase Derby qualifying points.

Jeff Mullins’ Intrepido worked five furlongs in 1:02.20, the same gallop that drew a “TDN Rising Star” tag after the colt won the GI American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita last year and finished fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Tim Yakteen’s Secured Freedom put up the fastest of the trio, covering five furlongs in 59.20 seconds after breaking his maiden at a mile in his second start on Dec. 28. Doug O’Neill’s Robusta breezed five furlongs in 1:02.60; the Accelerate colt exited a one-mile maiden score on Jan. 9 at Santa Anita.

“Intrepido, Robusta and Secured Freedom are all expected to meet next Saturday in the Robert B. Lewis (G3) going a mile at Santa Anita,” the pre-race work tab noted, underscoring how those timed drills translate into race-week positioning. The Lewis awards Kentucky Derby points on a 20-10-6-4-2 basis and carries a $100,000 purse, making it an important early-season target for 3-year-olds seeking to climb the road to Louisville.

Beyond the top three, Santa Anita’s morning tab included other prospects with form to watch. Bob Baffert-trained Litmus Test worked five furlongs in 1:00.60 following a win in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2). Baffert also shuttled Desert Gate and French Blue through solid drills; Desert Gate posted 5f in 1:00.60 off a runner-up effort in the American Pharoah, while French Blue covered six furlongs in 1:13.20 after a 2¼-length debut victory at Santa Anita. Doug O’Neill also worked Acknowledgemeplz six furlongs from the gate in 1:11.60; that colt finished third in the G2 San Vicente on Jan. 10.

Bob Baffert’s recent dominance in the Lewis looms large as a storyline. America’s Best Racing notes Baffert has won the last seven editions of the Lewis among 13 lifetime victories in the race, with those recent wins coming from odds-on favorites, a historical edge trainers and bettors will factor into handicapping decisions.

For handicappers and horsemen, the work tab gives concrete data: Intrepido retains graded-stakes upside, Secured Freedom brings raw speed and rapid progression, and Robusta offers a late-developing route profile. With Derby points on the line and the one-mile Lewis serving as Race 8 at 7 p.m. ET, these timed drills will shape wagering patterns and stable strategies heading into a busy stretch of qualifying opportunities. Expect post-position draws and jockey assignments to further refine the pecking order as Feb. 7 approaches.