Tipsheet: 2025 San Felipe Stakes

An exciting group of six talented three-year-olds will go 1 1/16 miles on the Santa Anita main strip in Saturday’s $300,000 San Felipe S. (G2). The 2025 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series contest will reward the top five finishers of the heat with qualifying points on a 50-25-15-10-5 structure. 

San Felipe Stakes Picks

• #3 Barnes
• #2 Journalism
• #4 Rodriguez

San Felipe Stakes Wagers

• $25 win #3 Barnes
• $10 exacta box 2-3
• $4 trifecta 2,3 with 2,3,4 with 2,3,4

San Felipe Contenders

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#1 MELLENCAMP: First of three from the Bob Baffert barn is still a maiden from four lifetime tries and lands in a tough spot looking for his initial tally. This $775,000 son of Constitution has been second best in both lifetime runs on the surface and is well drawn on the fence to save ground throughout the event. Mike Smith will pilot the exotics contender. 

#2 JOURNALISM: Mike McCarthy trainee endured a fine juvenile campaign from three races led by an impressive victory in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) in December. The bay son of Curlin moved forward in a big way when stretching out in distance as a two-year-old, and the top prospect has been working in steady fashion in anticipation of his seasonal bow. Umberto Rispoli will be in the stirrups. 

#3 BARNES: Flashy $3.2 million purchase was a game debut winner beneath the Twin Spires, followed by a smashing score of the San Vicente S. (G2) on this course for Baffert. The son of Into Mischief is bred to go two turns and gave every indication that he will take to route racing in his latest outing when drawing off late. Juan Hernandez will pilot the bay and have him prompting the pace from the opening bell. 

#4 RODRIGUEZ: The third from the Baffert barn ran second the whole way around the oval behind champion Citizen Bull in the Robert B. Lewis S. (G3) in his stakes debut and will be a major player with improvement off of that showing. Kentucky-bred son of Authentic graduated like a top colt two back on the oval and comes in with a pair of rapid morning drills as of late, as well. Flavien Prat inherits the mount. 

#5 SMOOTH CRUISEIN: Florida-bred son of Girvin finished fourth in the San Vicente S. (G2) and will travel two turns for the initial time on Saturday. This Karen Headley pupil has posted a pair of one-mile morning moves to ready for this test, but he will still be a surprise under Ricardo Gonzalez. 

#6 BERLIN WALL: Mark Glatt trainee has hit the board in two sprint events to this stage of his development and faces a tall task against this group while going long for the first time. The Cal-bred son of Practical Joke will need a major move forward to make the frame in this endeavor.