Sun, 03/09/2025 - 17:37

Citizen Bull, Baeza work with eye toward Santa Anita Derby

Barbara D. Livingston
Citizen Bull's lone start this year has been the Robert Lewis Stakes at a mile at Santa Anita on Feb. 1.

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.

“We wanted a bit of a distance work,” trainer John Shirreffs said of Baeza’s workout. “He looked very relaxed. He covered it really well.”

Baeza will have his stakes debut in the $500,000 Santa Anita Derby at 1 1/8 miles. Aside from Citizen Bull, the race is expected to draw Journalism, the exciting winner of the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on March 5.

“It will be a challenging spot,” Shirreffs said.

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