Trainer Bob Baffert reported all was well with Citizen Bull the morning after his 3 3/4-length win in the Feb. 1 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3). He added it remains to be determined if last year’s 2-year-old champion makes one or two more starts before this year’s 151st Kentucky Derby (G1) May 3 at Churchill Downs.
With the win, Citizen Bull earned 20 additional qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby to give him 60 in all. That should be more than enough points to make the 20-horse cutline for the Derby.
Prior to the Lewis, Baffert noted the son of Into Mischief is a “big, heavy colt” that should improve with racing. On Feb. 2, he said “we’ll just wait and see” whether Citizen Bull makes another start, potentially the March 1 San Felipe Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park, prior to the final round of Kentucky Derby preps in early April, which includes the Santa Anita Derby (G1) April 5.
“I need to talk it over with his racing manager (SF Racing’s Tom Ryan) and we’ll make a plan,” Baffert said.
Citizen Bull is owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, and partners. He improved to 4-0-1 from five starts with $1,421,000 in earnings.
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In addition to Citizen Bull, Baffert has another top Kentucky Derby prospect in Barnes , who moved to 2-for-2 when winning the San Vicente Stakes (G2) Jan. 4 at Santa Anita. Barnes will make his next start in either the Feb. 22 Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park or the San Felipe, Baffert said. It would be the first time going two turns for Barnes, a son of Into Mischief owned by Zedan Racing.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
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