Tales from the Crib: Citizen Bull

Feb 09, 2025 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

Portrait of Citizen Bull as a foal

Portrait of Citizen Bull as a foal (Photo by Kelcey Loges/Taylor Made Farm)

Robert and Lawana Low have made it to the Kentucky Derby (G1) twice as owners, but now the Missouri couple is experiencing the Triple Crown trail as breeders. The Lows bred and sold Citizen Bull, the reigning champion two-year-old male, as well as Built, who burst onto the Road to the Kentucky Derby at Fair Grounds this winter.

The Lows initially enjoyed their biggest success on the racetrack with fillies. Capote Belle, a two-year-old in training purchase, scored her signature win in the 1996 Test (G1) at Saratoga. Their homebred Real Cozzy captured the 2001 Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) before placing in three Grade 1s, including a tough-trip second in the Kentucky Oaks (G1).

Their Kentucky Derby competitors, Steppenwolfer and Magnum Moon, were auction acquisitions. Both qualified by way of the preps at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas – the nearest major racetrack to the Lows’ home.

Steppenwolfer was a consistent place-getter in his preps, culminating in a runner-up effort in the 2006 Arkansas Derby (G2), and the gray went on to finish third to Barbaro in the Run for the Roses.

Twelve years later, Magnum Moon swept all of his races leading up to the Kentucky Derby, notably turning the Rebel (G2)/Arkansas Derby (G1) double, only to wind up unplaced behind 2018 Triple Crown sweeper Justify at Churchill Downs. Sadly, Magnum Moon sustained a career-ending injury in an ensuing workout, and he ultimately succumbed to laminitis following a brave battle.

When the Lows spent $1.2 million to buy Colonel Liam at a two-year-old sale in 2019, they hoped that he would develop into a Derby contender. Instead, he ended up being a superior performer on turf. Colonel Liam won the lucrative Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) at Gulfstream Park twice. In an ironic twist, he did give them a significant victory on Kentucky Derby Day, via a dead-heat in the 2021 Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic (G1).

Citizen Bull’s mother, No Joke, was another high-profile purchase by the Lows. The well-bred daughter of Distorted Humor commanded $750,000 as a Keeneland September yearling, not long after her half-sister, Moonshine Memories, rolled in the 2017 Del Mar Debutante (G1).

Moonshine Memories extended her unbeaten sequence in the Chandelier (G1), but then checked in seventh as the favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). The remainder of her career was similarly anticlimactic.

Although No Joke never raced herself, her terrific pedigree alone made her a valuable broodmare prospect. Beyond Moonshine Memories, she was also a half-sister to Grade 2-placed stakes scorer Indian Evening, from the further family of 1997 Horse of the Year Favorite Trick. She would get another boost from maternal relative Tiz the Law, hero of the 2020 Belmont (G1) and Travers (G1).

No Joke therefore deserved her chance with prominent stallions. In 2021, she visited leading sire Into Mischief, whose son Authentic was just crowned Horse of the Year after starring in the 2020 Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).

No Joke’s bay colt was foaled in Kentucky on April 2, 2022. You can see him cavorting as a three-week-old in photos from Taylor Made Farm in the Bluegrass. But he didn’t spend his childhood there.

Citizen Bull runs alongside his mother

Citizen Bull runs alongside his mother (Photo by Kelcey Loges/Taylor Made Farm)

Citizen Bull runs alongside his mother

And they go the other way too (Photo by Kelcey Loges/Taylor Made Farm)

Citizen Bull enjoying a day out in the field

Citizen Bull exploring the field (Photo by Kelcey Loges/Taylor Made Farm)

The colt grew up on the Lows’ own farm near Springfield, Missouri – Primatara, which also features a palatial home. The 300-acre establishment derives its name from Prime, Inc., the trucking company that made their fortune. Lawana had the inspiration for the second half of the name, conjuring up the idea of land while alluding to the ancient Irish, Robert Low told the Springfield News-Leader.

Denny Wilson, the farm manager at Primatara, remembered that the yet-unnamed youngster stood out from the beginning.

“He was very strong from early on and was very classy,” Wilson said, noting that he had a “very strong shoulder and neck” even in his early days.

“Karri, his groom and caretaker, always said he took a lot of attention. He was all man, was always the leader in his paddock.”

As the colt matured into a yearling, it was time to prepare him for his date with the auction ring at the Keeneland September Sale. He handled it all with his usual aplomb.

He “was very fun to prep and be around,” Wilson summed up.

Consigned by Taylor Made on behalf of the Lows, the yearling caught the eye of bloodstock guru Donato Lanni, who has found such superstars as Arrogate, Authentic, Lookin at Lucky, and 2024 Eclipse Award champions National Treasure and Moira.

Lanni, acting as an agent for the partnership informally dubbed “The Avengers,” prevailed in the bidding by going to $675,000. The Avengers – SF Racing, Starlight Racing, and Madaket Stables – bring an array of additional owners on board. Citizen Bull’s consortium also encompasses Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan.

Citizen Bull was sent to Eddie Woods’ famed academy in Ocala, Florida, along with other Avengers recruits including Rodriguez and Madaket Road, to learn his early lessons. Woods has a lengthy honor roll of distinguished alumni, including such champions as Derby heroes Authentic and Big Brown (2008), brilliant turf performer Lady Eli, sprinters Whitmore and Midnight Lute, as well as Left Bank and National Treasure.

Once again, Citizen Bull comported himself in the manner of a smart youngster.

“He was a very straightforward horse to deal with,” Woods recalled. “Had a great attitude and was always a beautiful mover.”

Citizen Bull graduated to Hall of Famer Bob Baffert’s barn at Los Alamitos, where he recorded his first official breeze on April 19, 2024. Transferred to Del Mar as he was nearly ready to race, he got the job done in his career debut in a 5 1/2-furlong dash on Aug. 17. That made him the 1.30-1 favorite for the Del Mar Futurity (G1), but he wound up a belated third after lagging uncharacteristically off the pace.

His jockey from his first start, Martin Garcia, regained the mount for the American Pharoah (G1) at Santa Anita, and Citizen Bull was a totally different proposition. Returning to more aggressive tactics, he went to the early lead and held sway throughout. Citizen Bull duplicated the feat when going wire-to-wire in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar, clinching the Eclipse Award as champion two-year-old male.

In his reappearance in the Feb. 1 Robert B. Lewis (G3) back at Santa Anita, Citizen Bull reiterated how dangerous he can be as the controlling speed. The 9-10 favorite drew off by 3 3/4 lengths to rack up his third straight win. Chasing him home in second and third, respectively, were Rodriguez and Madaket Road – his old school pals from Eddie Woods Training Center and now Baffert stablemates. Thus it was a clean sweep of the trifecta for their tutors, past and present.

Citizen Bull figures to get more challenging race scenarios as he advances on the Derby trail, but ever since his baby days, he’s got the swagger of the leader of the pack.

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