Corridor of Fame coach Bob Baffert is again within the Kentucky Derby chase in earnest after pacesetting Citizen Bull and Gaming offered him with a one-two end within the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile offered by TAA Friday at Del Mar.
Baffert has been reinstated by Churchill Downs after serving a three-year suspension as a consequence of Medina Spirit’s optimistic check for a banned substance following his 2021 Kentucky Derby triumph.
In profitable the Juvenile for a document sixth time, Baffert confirmed his readiness to pursue the all-time document for Derby triumphs. He’s tied with Ben Jones with six total.
“I’m simply pleased with the way in which they ran. Citizen Bull and Gaming are two good horses,” Baffert mentioned. “They’re getting higher and they’ll get higher than what they did as we speak.”
With 30,582 spectators crowding into picturesque Del Mar for “Future Stars Friday,” Baffert’s prime two had been each good and fortunate. Fortunate as a result of extremely regarded East Avenue, in his eagerness to get away shortly from the rail for jockey Tyler Gaffalione, all however sank to his knees as he stumbled badly out of the beginning gate. He was by no means a consider ending ninth of 10.
“It’s simply unlucky,” mentioned Brendan Walsh, the downcast coach of East Avenue. “Tyler mentioned he simply went to interrupt so quick it gave out from beneath him. From there, nobody was closing. The race was over. One other day.”
With East Avenue hopelessly behind, Citizen Bull and jockey Martin Garcia had been capable of carve out comfy fractions for the 1 1/16-mile contest. The opening quarter of a mile went in :23.44, the half-mile in :47.89. The winner was nonetheless coasting alongside by way of three-quarters in 1:12.81 en path to a remaining time of 1:43.07 on a quick, sun-splashed monitor.
Baffert, 71, knew nicely earlier than it was over that he was on his option to the mark for Juvenile victories. His earlier successes got here with Vindication (2002), Midshipman (2008), New 12 months’s Day (2013), Recreation Winner (2018) and Corniche (2021). He owns 19 Breeders’ Cup victories total.
Citizen Bull, a bay son of Into Mischief, returned $33.80 for a $2 win wager. He was missed though he had produced a front-running rating within the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes Offered by DK Horse Oct. 5 at Del Mar.
“These California horses aren’t getting the respect they deserve,” Baffert asserted. “We run on heavy tracks. They’re demanding. However I knew, the way in which they had been coaching, they had been coaching so nicely. However they had been going to should step it up and these colts stepped it up.”
Baffert has at all times cherished his success within the Kentucky Derby. It means an amazing deal to him to once more be pointing towards the primary Saturday in Might.
“I wish to go there with a extremely good horse,” he mentioned, including, “It’s good to get all that behind us. The Derby is particular. I’ve the best recollections of the Kentucky Derby.
“I simply really feel that I don’t have to speak about it anymore. Life goes on. Overlook about it. I’ve at all times been one to place issues behind me.”
He mentioned of setting his sights now on the coveted Derby document, “I simply hope I’ve a horse adequate to win it. It’s enjoyable. It’s a aim all of us need. You want one thing to maintain you excited.”
As proof of how tough it’s to carry residence the famed roses, Recreation Winner is the one one in every of Baffert’s Juvenile winners to even attain the opening leg of the Triple Crown. He wound up fifth. For the reason that inception of the Breeders’ Cup and the Juvenile in 1984, Road Sense, winner of the 2006 version, and Nyquist, who prevailed in 2015, are the one ones to go on to seize the nation’s premier race for 3-year-olds.
Citizen Bull is owned by the partnership of SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Sol Kumin’s Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Decided Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Tom Ryan, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan. The connections are becoming as a result of they remained loyal to Baffert throughout his suspension.
Kumin hailed Baffert’s return, saying, “I believe it’s nice. I perceive what occurred and the value was paid.”
The Juvenile underscored how masterful Baffert is in creating younger expertise. “With a majority of these horses, there may be no person higher,” Kumin mentioned. “On the filth, there may be no person higher.”
