Baffert works four, led by Citizen Bull, for upcoming stakes
?q=100)
ARCADIA, Calif. - Led by Citizen Bull, the champion 2-year-old male of 2024, four of trainer Bob Baffert’s top 3-year-olds had workouts at Santa Anita on Sunday for upcoming stakes.
Citizen Bull, winner of the Grade 3 Robert Lewis Stakes at a mile on Feb. 1 in his lone start this year, worked five furlongs in 59.80 seconds, a time that left Hall of Famer Baffert impressed.
“He’s doing well,” Baffert said. “This track has been demanding the last few days.”
Baffert said Citizen Bull is on schedule for a start in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 5.
Plans have not been finalized for Barnes or Rodriguez, who were second and third behind the highly regarded Journalism in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on March 1.
Barnes, winner of the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes at seven furlongs in January, worked five furlongs on Sunday in 1:00, while Rodriguez worked six furlongs in 1:13.20.
Gaming, winner of the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity, worked a half-mile in a rapid 46.80 seconds, his first workout since he was withdrawn from consideration for the Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs on March 15.
Gaming was second to Citizen Bull in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar last November, but has been beaten in his last two starts, including an eighth-place finish in the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Jan. 25 in his last start.
Baffert has not announced a race goal for Gaming.
Journalism is a candidate for the $500,000 Santa Anita Derby, along with Baeza, a maiden-race winner on Feb. 14. On Saturday, Journalism worked five furlongs in 1:01.40, while Baeza worked the same distance in 1:03.40.
A slower time for Baeza was not a concern for trainer John Shirreffs.
“He had strong gallops for two days before,” Shirreffs said on Saturday afternoon. “I didn’t give him a stiff work.”
Also on Saturday, the Baffert-trained Cornucopian worked five furlongs in 1:00 in advance of a start in this Saturday’s Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at 1 1/8 miles at Oaklawn Park.
Cornucopian drew the outside post in a field of nine in the $1.5 million Arkansas Derby.
Cornucopian has started once, recording a brilliant win by 5 3/4 lengths in a maiden race at six furlongs at Oaklawn Park on Feb. 23. Cornucopian, who is by Into Mischief, earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 101.
The jump to a two-turn race is not a concern for Baffert.
“He’s bred to go that far,” Baffert said.
Cornucopian is a half-brother to Guarana, who won three Grade 1 races, including the Coaching Club American Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles at Saratoga in 2019.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.