It’s safe to say Bob Baffert trains the best juveniles in California at the moment. On Saturday at Santa Anita, he saddled the top two finishers in the $300,000 American Pharoah (G1) and swept the trifecta in the $200,000 Oak Leaf (G2).
Citizen Bull and Getaway Car, third and fourth in the Del Mar Futurity (G1) last month, ranked as Baffert’s top contenders in the 1 1/16-mile American Pharoah. Bettors favored Getaway Car, winner of the six-furlong Best Pal (G3), at odds of 13-10, but it was Citizen Bull who delivered a minor 3-1 upset.
The making of Citizen Bull’s upset began the moment the gates opened. In a surprising turn of events, Citizen Bull dashed to the lead for the first time in his career, setting fractions of :23.85, :47.78, and 1:12.43 under jockey Martin Garcia. It marked a stark departure from the Del Mar Futurity, in which Citizen Bull raced sixth during the early stages.
Getaway Car tracked his stablemate in second place every step of the way, but at the top of the homestretch Citizen Bull kicked away and maintained a clear lead to the finish line, ultimately prevailing by two lengths in 1:44.30. Getaway Car pulled 5 3/4 lengths clear of third-place finisher McKinzie Street, while Emerald Bay — a fourth Baffert trainee — settled for fourth place. Show of Force, Start Mo Up, and Mischief River trailed the field.
“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. I want to thank Bob and the owners; of course they gave me the opportunity to ride him, knowing that he is a really good horse and I had the chance.”
A son of five-time leading North American sire Into Mischief, Citizen Bull is owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan.
Citizen Bull’s triumph gave Baffert a record-extending 13th win in the American Pharoah, including four in a row since 2021.
“At Del Mar, he really needed that race,” said Baffert. “Mike (Smith) rode him and the colt was heavy, and he’s still heavy. This track is very demanding. It is very deep and slow. You could tell he was getting tired at the end, so I think he will get so much out of this race. He is a good doer, he’s a good strong colt. He’s bred really well. I’m proud of both my horses, I think Getaway Car — he was in a good spot — but Citizen Bull, you could tell it was going to be hard to get by him.”
In addition to the winner’s share of the purse, Citizen Bull picked up two other valuable prizes. He earned 10 qualification points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby plus a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Nov. 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar.
Getaway Car (five points), McKinzie Street (three points), Emerald Bay (two points), and Show of Force (one point) also earned Road to the Kentucky Derby qualification points.
Whereas Citizen Bull brought graded stakes experience into the American Pharoah, Baffert’s filly Non Compliant won the 1 1/16-mile Oak Leaf just five weeks after scoring on debut in a six-furlong maiden special weight. Despite her inexperience, the daughter of Tiz the Law started as the even-money Oak Leaf favorite and ran to expectations with Juan Hernandez board.
Non Compliant’s stablemate Nooni, winner of the Sorrento (G3), set fractions of :23.42, :47.22, and 1:11.64 while pressed by Baffert’s Del Mar Debutante (G1) winner Tenma. Non Compliant was content to race wide in third place. In the homestretch, Tenma faded and Non Compliant ranged up alongside Nooni, eventually edging past to win by 2 1/4 lengths in 1:45.08.
“She was really happy and a little aggressive, but this was her first time going the mile,” said Hernandez. “So, of course, she’s going to break a little sharp, but I like that. She relaxed around the turn. I was always really comfortable. Around the (second) turn, I was trying to pick it up, and she did that very well. She didn’t want to stop.”
Tenma finished 8 1/4 lengths behind Nooni in third place, while In the Air Tonight took fourth place. Showers, another Baffert trainee, finished fifth, while Om N Joy completed the order of finish.
Owned by Georgia Antley Hunt, Jeff Giglio, and John L. Rogitz, Non Compliant picked up 10 qualification points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks, in addition to earning a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Nov. 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). Nooni (five points), Tenma (three points), In the Air Tonight (two points), and Showers (one point) earned Kentucky Oaks points as well.
Racing continues on Sunday at Santa Anita with two more graded stakes. First post time is 4 p.m. ET.
