ARCADIA, Calif. – It was a busy Saturday for Kentucky Derby candidates at Santa Anita.
Journalism and Citizen Bull posted final drills for the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 5, while Rodriguez looked super and is expected to run the same day in either the Grade 1 Blue Grass at Keeneland or Grade 2 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct.
Baeza, the well-bred maiden winner, also worked Saturday as the Santa Anita Derby field takes shape. Five of the eight nominees are likely to run including Barnes, whose final workout is scheduled for Monday.
The probable Santa Anita Derby starters are Journalism, Citizen Bull, Barnes, Baeza, and the maiden Westwood. The remaining nominees are Bullard, who is not likely to start; Rodriguez, who is headed out of town; and Smooth Cruisein.
Rodriguez and Journalism were among the first workers after the 6:30 a.m. break Saturday at Santa Anita. Both worked alone.
Rodriguez went five furlongs in 59.60 seconds, his second straight sharp work after he finished a distant third in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes on March 1. “Rodriguez worked really good, and Citizen Bull looked really good, too,” trainer Bob Baffert said.
The tentative plan for Rodriguez is the Blue Grass or Wood. The post draw for the Wood is Sunday; the Blue Grass will be drawn on Tuesday. Baffert also confirmed Saturday that San Felipe runner-up Barnes is an intended starter in the Santa Anita Derby.
Journalism, early favorite for the Santa Anita and Kentucky Derby, worked moments after Rodriguez. Umberto Rispoli was up on Journalism, the Michael McCarthy trainee who won the San Felipe with a 108 Beyer Speed Figure. His five-furlong workout time Saturday was a modest 1:01.40.
“He’s been ready, he’s been working really well, working solid,” Rispoli said after the work. “He does his job like every time.”
By himself, Journalism does not work fast, and Rispoli was not surprised at the relatively slow time over a fast surface. “He’s the kind of horse, you put him in company and he knows better. By himself, you have to make him do it a little bit, otherwise he would really go slow.”
Citizen Bull is expected to set the pace in the Santa Anita Derby, especially after his sizzling work Saturday following the 7:45 a.m. break. Working inside an unidentified workmate, with Juan Hernandez up, Citizen Bull put away his rivals and went five furlongs in 58.40. Citizen Bull’s regular rider is Martin Garcia.
Baeza also worked after the 7:45 a.m. break, with jockey Hector Berrios up for trainer John Shirreffs. Baeza broke off at the six-furlong pole and hooked in with company at the half-mile pole. It was a designed team workout.
“He’s much better [in company],” Berrios said. “He’s more focused. Solo, he starts looking around and he’s not focused.” Baeza, a sibling to Kentucky Derby winner Mage and Belmont Stakes winner Dornoch, worked six furlongs in 1:12.
A sharp maiden winner last out, Baeza has zero qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby. It’s all or nothing in the Santa Anita Derby, in which field size will be a factor. With six or more runners, the one-two-three finishers earn 100, 50 and 50 points, respectively.
If only five start in the Santa Anita Derby, then just 75 percent of the available Derby points will be awarded (75 points to winner, 37.5 to second, 18.75 to third).
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.