Citizen Bull (Into Mischief), last year's champion juvenile, will give jockey Martin Garcia his first Derby mount since 2015.
“It's a dream come true,” said Garcia, a 40-year-old native of Veracruz, Mexico. “It's what every jockey wants.”
Garcia has ridden in the Kentucky Derby four times, all between 2010 and 2015. His best finish came in 2015 when Dortmund, also trained by Bob Baffert, finished third behind subsequent Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.
“I'm excited to get back, most of all because I know I have a very good horse to ride,” Garcia said.
Garcia secured the mount on Citizen Bull thanks to a fortuitous phone call before the GI American Pharoah Stakes last October.
Baffert planned to enter three horses in the American Pharoah, but was short one jockey when Garcia just happened to call Baffert on the morning of entries.
“I go, 'Hey, I'm glad you called. What are you doing Saturday?” Baffert shared after the American Pharoah.
Citizen Bull went on to win the American Pharoah by two lengths in front-running fashion and four weeks later, Garcia and Citizen Bull were back in the winner's circle after winning the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Del Mar.
After kicking off his 3-year-old season with a win in the GIII Robert B. Lewis Stakes in February, Citizen Bull most recently finished a disappointing fourth after setting the pace in the Apr. 5 GI Santa Anita Derby.
“I think it just wasn't his day,” Garcia said of that effort. “Horses can be similar to people, sometimes we all have difficult days. But everybody knows he's a superstar horse. Hopefully we can get a good result in Kentucky.”
Citizen Bull turned in a positive work Friday ahead of shipping to Kentucky this week. Working with a target several lengths in front, the champion swept past his workmate in the stretch and galloped out strongly. He was credited with a six-furlong work in 1:11.80 (1/4).
“He worked really good,” Garcia said. “Mr. Baffert told me to be a little off the pace. Then in the stretch when it was time to let him run, he switched leads perfectly and started reaching out like he does. The gallop-out was also really good.”
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
