Affirmed Stakes

Monday's rescheduled Affirmed Stakes was run at a breakneck clip, and that suited the class-dropping SECURED FREEDOM (c, 3, Practical Joke--Securely, by Uncle Mo), who made a long run from three furlongs out and overcame some late greenness to win for the first time in stakes company. Settled in fifth position as Mo Koko (Mo Town) and 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Decisive Win (Nyquist) match-raced into the clubhouse turn, Secured Freedom was content to bide his time from midfield and improved past a rival to be fourth approaching...

After power issues that forced the cancellation of four races on the Thursday card at Santa Anita, the closing day of the winter-spring season will be extended one additional day to Monday, June 15 as a make-up afternoon, the track announced via release. Thursday's power issues began after the fifth race, necessitating the cancellation of the remaining four races, including the Listed Affirmed Stakes set for race 8 that afternoon. Those contests were redrawn Friday morning, and additional races will be added to the program. First post time on Monday...

With a spring in his step down the lane, it was 'TDN Rising Star' Parenting (Justify) who won his first black-type in the Affirmed S. at Santa Anita Park on Sunday. The colt made his debut a success when he won by 2 3/4 lengths at 'The Great Race Place' Apr. 26. That effort earned him 'TDN Rising Star' honors. Trying two turns and against much tougher company here, Parenting was backed at 80 cents on the dollar. The Bob Baffert trainee got down to business heading into the first...