Madaket Road, runner-up in the Rebel and fourth in the Florida Derby, will be pointed to the Grade 2, $600,000 Pat Day Mile on the undercard of the May 3 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, trainer Bob Baffert said Friday afternoon.
“That’s sort of been our goal all along, that’s a better distance for him,” Baffert said.
Madaket Road was in the body of the field for the Kentucky Derby, so his defection opens a spot for Built should his connections elect to run. Built, trained by Wayne Catalano for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, is also being considered for the Pat Day Mile. Eclipse also owns probable Kentucky Derby favorite Journalism.
Behind Built on the Kentucky Derby points list are Neoequos, Render Judgment, and Baeza. The connections of Neoequos and Baeza have stated they want to run in the Derby.
The defection of Madaket Road means Baffert will have two starters in the Kentucky Derby - Citizen Bull, last year’s 2-year-old champion, and Rodriguez, the Wood Memorial winner.
On Friday at Santa Anita, Baffert worked Citizen Bull and Madaket Road. Citizen Bull, the 2024 2-year-old champion colt, worked six furlongs in company in 1:11.80. Madaket Road, went five furlongs by himself in 1:00.80.
Citizen Bull, under jockey Martin Garcia, started Friday’s workout about five lengths behind the unraced 3-year-old colt Lionel, according to video of the work posted on XBTV.
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Citizen Bull gradually caught up to his workmate, came into the stretch two paths away from Lionel, then took over inside the sixteenth pole and finished 1 1/2 lengths in front at the wire before being asked to continue out around the clubhouse turn.
Citizen Bull, who has worn blinkers in all six of his starts, did not wear blinkers in Friday’s work and will not wear them in the Kentucky Derby, Baffert said.
Rodriguez is scheduled to work Sunday, according to Baffert.
Citizen Bull, Rodriguez, and other horses Baffert is planning to run at Churchill Downs during Derby week are scheduled to ship to Kentucky on Thursday.
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