Study Guide: 2025 Santa Anita Derby

Apr 02, 2025 J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

Journalism outfinishes Barnes in the San Felipe (Photo by Horsephotos.com)

Three talented graded stakes winners are among the five horses entered in Saturday’s $500,000 Santa Anita Derby (G1) at Santa Anita.

Due to its small field size, the 1 1/8-mile race will award only 75% of its intended 100-50-25-15-10 Road to the Kentucky Derby qualification points. The five starters will receive points on a 75-37.5-18.75-11.25-7.5 split.

Diminished points aside, the quality of competition in the Santa Anita Derby is excellent. Let’s take a horse-by-horse look at the field:

Journalism

Journalism outfinishes Barnes in the San Felipe (Photo by Horsephotos.com)

Start(s): 4
Wins: 3
Place: 0
Show: 1

Owner: Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Elayne Stables 5, Robert V. LaPenta, Mrs. John Magnier-Lessee, Derrick Smith-Lessee, and Michael B. Tabor-Lessee
Breeder: Don Alberto Corporation
Trainer: Michael McCarthy
Jockey: Umberto Rispoli

Top Speed Rating: (104) when winning the San Felipe (G2) at Santa Anita.
Total Earnings: $338,880

Sire: Curlin
Dam: Mopotism
Color: Bay

Journalism is undefeated in three starts since stretching out around two turns. Last December, he beat a deep field in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2). Then, in March, he unleashed a strong finish to beat Barnes (the Kentucky Derby favorite at the time) in the San Felipe (G2). The latter win yielded a 104 Brisnet Speed rating and a powerful 113 Brisnet Speed rating, stamping Journalism as a formidable Santa Anita Derby win threat.

Journalism is on the Road to the #KyDerby! pic.twitter.com/3NyKoIEe9o

— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) March 1, 2025

Citizen Bull

Citizen Bull wins Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita. (Photo by Benoit Photo)

Start(s): 5
Wins: 4
Place: 0
Show: 1

Owner: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan
Breeder: Robert Low and Lawana Low
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Martin Garcia

Top Speed Rating: (107) when winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar.
Total Earnings: $1,421,000

Sire: Into Mischief
Dam: No Joke
Color: Bay

Reigning champion two-year-old male Citizen Bull has won the American Pharoah (G1), Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), and Robert B. Lewis (G3) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. He led from start to finish in all three of those races, and his Breeders’ Cup triumph yielded a 107 Brisnet Speed rating, the highest number in the San Felipe field. Sharp workouts since the Robert B. Lewis suggest Citizen Bull is sitting on another top-tier performance.

🐂 Citizen Bull wins the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile!

pic.twitter.com/hNQeTqGO1v

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) November 2, 2024

Westwood

Start(s): 3
Wins: 0
Place: 1
Show: 1

Owner: C R K Stable
Breeder: Hinkle Farms
Trainer: John Shirreffs
Jockey: Tiago Pereira

Top Speed Rating: (91) when finishing second in a Santa Anita maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $20,700

Sire: Authentic
Dam: Indian Bay
Color: Bay

Westwood has shown signs of talent in Santa Anita maiden special weights, and he’s improved with every start so far. But he’s yet to win a race, and his career-best 91 Brisnet Speed rating looks light against the Santa Anita Derby field.

Barnes

Barnes romps in the San Vicente (Photo by Benoit Photo)

Start(s): 3
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Zedan Racing Stables
Breeder: Jeff Drown and Don Rachel
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Juan Hernandez

Top Speed Rating: (102) when finishing second in the San Felipe (G2) at Santa Anita.
Total Earnings: $249,000

Sire: Into Mischief
Dam: All American Dream
Color: Bay

After winning his first two starts sprinting, including the seven-furlong San Vicente (G2), Barnes ran strongly to finish second against Journalism in the San Felipe (G2). Barnes pulled 9 1/2 lengths clear of the third-place finisher and earned a strong 102 Brisnet Speed rating, so a top-three finish in the Santa Anita Derby is well within reach.

Baeza

c

Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: C R K Stable and Grandview Equine
Breeder: Grandview Equine
Trainer: John Shirreffs
Jockey: Hector Berrios

Top Speed Rating: (98) when winning a Santa Anita maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $48,500

Sire: McKinzie
Dam: Puca
Color: Bay

A half-brother to 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage and 2024 Belmont (G1) winner Dornoch, Baeza is bred to shine racing 1 1/8 miles. He dominated a one-mile maiden special weight at Santa Anita last time out and has sharply improved his Brisnet Speed rating with every start. One more step forward can put Baeza in the hunt for a top-three finish in his Road to the Kentucky Derby debut.