Champion Citizen Bull Returns in Robert B. Lewis, One of Three Derby Preps Saturday

Citizen Bull | Horsephotos

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Last year's recently crowned 2-year-old champion Citizen Bull (Into Mischief) will kick off his 2025 season in the GIII Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita, one of three GI Kentucky Derby preps on tap Saturday.

The 2024 GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner will take on just four rivals, including a pair of Bob Baffert-trained stablemates and last-out maiden winners–'TDN Rising Star' Rodriguez (Authentic) and the rail-drawn Madaket Road (Quality Road).

Rodriguez romped in his two-turn debut at second asking at Santa Anita Jan. 4, good for a field-best 101 Beyer Speed Figure. Madaket Road, second on debut in the GIII Bob Hope Stakes Nov. 17, went one better cutting back to six furlongs on the opening day program in Arcadia Dec. 26.

All three are owned by the high-powered partnership headed by SF Racing, Starlight Racing and Madaket Stables.

“The Bull, he's a horse that may need a race or two,” Baffert told colleague Bill Finley earlier this week. “I'd rather race them than just train them, train them, train them. You have to get races into these horses.”

'Rising Star' Ferocious (Flatter), a troubled fifth behind Citizen Bull in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, headlines the GIII Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Last term's GI Hopeful Stakes and GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity runner-up adds blinkers for trainer Gustavo Delgado for his sophomore debut.

“The horse has a lot of talent. If you take a look at the numbers, he's one of the most qualified horses in the race,” assistant trainer Gustavo Delgado, Jr. said. “My dad is of the opinion that the horse is still between 75, 80 percent ready for this race, but it's a start. You don't want them to peak at this moment.”

The field of seven also includes speedy Mucho Macho Man Stakes winner and 'Rising Star' Guns Loaded (Gun Runner), who makes his first start around two turns for trainer Jose D'Angelo; and the highly regarded Tappan Street (Into Mischief), a debut winner for Brad Cox going seven furlongs at Gulfstream Dec. 28.

“It's a strong field and every horse is still improving,” D'Angelo said.

The downgraded 1 1/8-miles Withers Stakes attracted a field of seven, led by 5-2 morning-line favorite and 'Rising Star' Captain Cook (Practical Joke), a runaway maiden winner at second asking going seven furlongs in the slop at the Big A Dec. 28. An eventful sixth in his debut for Norm Casse at Churchill Oct. 27, the bay brought $410,000 from St Elias Stable out of the Estate of John Hendrickson dispersal at the 2024 Keeneland November Horses of Racing Age Sale. He is trained by Rick Dutrow, Jr.

Global Steve (Bucchero) brings a perfect two-for-two record to the table for trainer Butch Reid following a win in the Parx Future Stars Stakes Dec. 30. Reid upset last year's Withers with Uncle Heavy (Social Inclusion). Mo Quality (Mo Town) enters the Withers off a runner-up finish in the Smarty Jones Stakes at Oaklawn Jan. 4.

Points on the road to the GI Kentucky Oaks will be on the line in Saturday's GIII Fasig-Tipton Forward Gal Stakes at Gulfstream and Sunday's GIII Fasig-Tipton Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita.

The deep field of 11 for the Forward Gal is topped by the Saffie Joseph, Jr.-trained duo of 16 1/4-length debut winner and 'Rising Star' Rojo Rita (Volatile) and 2024 GIII Adirondack Stakes winner The Queens M G (Thousand Words); and the turning- back Cox pair of Tempted Stakes winner Stunner (Girvin) and GII Golden Rod Stakes third Eclatant (Into Mischief), respectively.

Tenma (Nyquist), last year's GI Del Mar Debutante Stakes and GII Starlet Stakes heroine, is the 2-5 morning-line favorite for the five-horse field in the Las Virgenes.

Graded action this weekend also includes Saturday's GII Santa Monica Stakes, GIII Megahertz Stakes and GIII Thunder Road Stakes at Santa Anita; and the GIII Endeavour Stakes and GIII Tampa Bay Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.

The scratched-down field of four for the Santa Monica features GI La Brea Stakes upsetter Kopion (Omaha Beach).

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