Rain this week at Santa Anita is a minor glitch for Journalism, favorite for the Kentucky Derby after a 108 Beyer Speed Figure victory March 1 in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes. But weather and track closure could cause trainer Michael McCarthy to adjust Journalism’s work schedule. Journalism was tentatively scheduled to work this weekend. A day or two later would make little difference.
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DRF Past Performances
What’s behind the name Citizen Bull? The 2024 champion 2-year-old male ranks among the leading Kentucky Derby prospects for an ownership group that includes SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, and Stonestreet Stables.
But how did the colt get his cool, catchy name? Creative thinking by SF racing manager Tom Ryan.
“I was looking at luxury watches, Citizen Bullhead watches,” Ryan said. “I didn’t like the name Citizen Bullhead” – for a horse – “and I didn’t like the name Bullhead” for a horse.
WHO’S HOT
The plan for Owen Almighty to target the Grade 2 Pat Day Mile on May 3 at Churchill Downs still makes sense, but that plan may have changed after his slow-pace front-running win March 8 in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby. Despite trainer Brian Lynch’s reservations about Owen Almighty getting 1 1/4 miles, the colt’s owners are keen for the Kentucky Derby. Owen Almighty, whose 65 qualifying points ensures a Derby berth, is new to Derby Watch. Daily Racing Form linemaker David Aragona opens him at 40-1.
Tue, 03/11/2025 - 15:56
Journalism, the highly rated winner of the San Felipe Stakes on March 1 at Santa Anita in his first start of 2025, has been tabbed as the 3-1 morning-line favorite for this weekend’s Kentucky Derby Future Wager pool, the fifth to be offered prior to this year’s Derby.
Journalism beat odds-on favorite Barnes in the San Felipe by 1 3/4 lengths and earned a 108 Beyer Speed Figure, tops of the year for a 3-year-old. Trained by Michael McCarthy, Journalism is being pointed to the Santa Anita Derby on April 5 as his next start prior to the Kentucky Derby.
Mon, 03/10/2025 - 17:39
Rapture will start Saturday in the Virginia Derby, while trainer Brad Cox’s second Colonial Down entrant, John Hancock, will be scratched to start in the Louisiana Derby on March 22 at Fair Grounds.
John Hancock won the Sam Davis Stakes on Feb. 8 at Tampa Bay Downs, beating runner-up Owen Almighty by a half-length. Owen Almighty returned this past weekend to easily capture the Tampa Bay Derby.
Flavien Prat has the mount on Rapture, a second-start Oaklawn Park maiden route winner in his most recent outing on Jan. 25.
When Sierra Leone won the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar, the thoughts of Coolmore co-owner M.V. Magnier quickly turned to Clem Murphy, a longtime bloodstock consultant for the global outfit. Murphy was unable to attend the Breeders’ Cup due to illness but was credited for success at the Breeders’ Cup by a number of Coolmore’s connections. In a poignant moment, the famously reserved Magnier dedicated the Classic win to Murphy, his voice breaking before he hustled away from the NBC microphone.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Citizen Bull, the champion 2-year-old male, and Baeza, a maiden race winner on Feb. 14, worked at Santa Anita on Saturday in advance of scheduled start in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 5.
Citizen Bull worked six furlongs in 1:12.60, his fourth workout since a win by 3 3/4 lengths in the Grade 3 Robert Lewis Stakes at a mile at Santa Anita on Feb. 1. The Lewis is Citizen Bull’s lone start this year for trainer Bob Baffert.
Baeza worked five furlongs in 1:02.20, his second workout since a win by 4 3/4 lengths on Feb. 14 in his third start.
ARCADIA, Calif. - By most standards, the 4-year-old colt Eagles Flight would rightfully gain accolades for winning two of his first three starts, including a sharp victory in an allowance race at a mile at Santa Anita on Saturday.
It is not that simple for Eagles Flight, a half-brother to the 2022 undefeated Horse of the Year Flightline.
Flightline won all six of his starts by at least six lengths, including four consecutive Grade 1 races in his brief career.
ARCADIA, Calif. - Cavalieri is unbeaten in four starts, a two-time stakes winner, and nowhere near reaching the peak of her ability.
That was the assessment of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert in the immediate aftermath of Cavalieri’s win in Saturday’s Grade 1 Beholder Mile for fillies and mares at Santa Anita.
“We always knew she would be a superstar,” Baffert said.
Cavalieri will have ample opportunity in coming months to sort her way through the older filly and mare division on dirt.