Secured Freedom set for Iowa Derby

Secured Freedom, winner of the $101,000 Affirmed Stakes at Santa Anita on June 15, is booked to run in the $250,000 Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows on July 11.

“The timing works out,” trainer Tim Yakteen said.

Secured Freedom won for the second time in his sixth start in the Affirmed Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles. The 13-10 favorite, Secured Freedom closed from fifth of seven to win by 1 3/4 lengths.

Owned by the partnership of Pierre and Leslie Amestoy and Roger Beasley, Secured Freedom was beaten in three graded stakes at Churchill Downs and Santa Anita earlier this year, including a third-place finish in the Grade 3 Robert Lewis Stakes at a mile at Santa Anita in February.

The Affirmed Stakes was postponed from June 11 after Santa Anita canceled the final four races that day because of a power failure.

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