American Freedom punches ticket to Haskell

DEL MAR, Calif. – The warm-up stakes are over for American Freedom, the late-developing 3-year-old trained by Bob Baffert.

After winning stakes at Pimlico and Prairie Meadows in his last two starts, American Freedom will have his Grade 1 debut in the $1.25 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on July 31. On Wednesday at Del Mar, American Freedom worked six furlongs in 1:12.20, a major exercise in the buildup to the Haskell.

“I was looking for a strong work, and he got it,” Baffert said.

American Freedom worked in company with a stablemate, with the pair starting before the five-eighths pole. American Freedom began two lengths behind and drew even in early stretch before pulling away. Jockey Rafael Bejarano was aboard American Freedom, who races for Gary and Mary West.

American Freedom has won 3 of 4 starts and earned $246,100. The colt, by Pulpit, was sixth as the 7-5 favorite in the Grade 3 Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs on May 7 but rebounded to win the Sir Barton Stakes at Pimlico on May 21 and the Grade 3 Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows on July 1.

The Haskell field is expected to be led by Nyquist, the winner of the Kentucky Derby and the champion 2-year-old male of 2015. The Haskell will be American Freedom’s most difficult start so far.

“He’ll need everything he’s got,” Baffert said. “It will be a tough race. My job is to make sure he’s at his best, and he looked pretty good.”

On Wednesday at Del Mar, Baffert also worked the promising 3-year-old Arrogate, who went a half-mile in 48.60 seconds. Owned by Juddmonte Farms, Arrogate won an optional claimer at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita on June 24 in his most recent start.

Baffert said on Wednesday that he does not have a race planned for Arrogate, who is by Unbridled’s Song.