Kentucky Derby Horse Profile: Citizen Bull

Oct 08, 2024 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

Starlight Racing, SF Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, et al’s Citizen Bull received 10 qualifying points on the 2025 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series following his two-length tally in the $301,000 American Pharoah S. (G1) at Santa Anita on Oct. 5. The wire-to-wire winner clocked 1 1/16 miles on the fast dirt oval in 1:44.30 with Martin Garcia in the stirrups.

“He broke really good and at the six furlongs, he was kind of a little keen.” said Garcia. “Right after he dropped the bridle and he was just really comfortable there at the half mile, I was loaded. I said, ‘I don’t know if anyone can beat me.’ He just kept going.”

Trained by Bob Baffert, Citizen Bull improved his lifetime line to 3-2-0-1, $261,000. The son of Into Mischief was unveiled on Aug. 17 at Del Mar and produced a game score in a 5 1/2-furlong dash on the dirt. He preceded his initial Grade 1 win with a third-place showing in the Del Mar Futurity (G1) on Sept. 8.

Citizen Bull Wins On The Front-End In Saturday’s GI, $300,000 American Pharoah Stakes pic.twitter.com/Jku8aHMmQp

— Santa Anita Park (@santaanitapark) October 6, 2024

“I feel fortunate and blessed to have the clientele that I have,” Baffert stated. “Without that, you can’t win these things. This is why we buy these colts: to try to win on these big days. I’m happy we have one, maybe a couple. It was great to see that.”

The winner was bred in the Bluegrass State by Robert and Lawana Low and fetched a final bid of $675,000 at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He is the first black-type winner out of the unraced Distorted Humor mare No Joke, who counts herself as a half-sister to 2017 Del Mar Debutante (G1) and Chandelier S. (G1) queen Moonshine Memories, as well as the stakes-winning Indian Evening. This is the same female line as 1997 Horse of the Year Favorite Trick.

Citizen Bull has earned Brisnet Speed figures of 92-91-100 from three career races to date, and he registered a hefty 107 Late Pace number in his route debut in the American Pharoah as well. The well-bred colt is likely for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar on Nov. 1.