The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile has long been a showcase for young talent. In recent times, one of the best developers of young talent has been Bob Baffert. On November 1, 2024 people were reminded again this hall of famer’s freshman program is no bull…oh…wait a minute…in the 41st running of this grade 1 there was plenty of Bull.
Citizen Bull rolled into the 2024 Juvenile as an absolute afterthought in the minds of many. Fresh off a two-length score in the grade 1 American Pharoah on October 5 at Santa Anita, this son of Into Mischief went to post at Del Mar in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at odds of 15 to 1. Students of the Thoroughbred game realize Big Race Bob has long been able to set his sights on these larger events. Having won this race on five previous occasions and considering the Cup is at Del Mar where he is far and away the all-time leader in graded stakes victories, it was a little surprising to see the Bull at that price.
Of course, this is the Breeders’ Cup and all the horses are good. Yes, the balance of power in recent times has shifted East of the Mississippi, but if anybody has a gameplan in a spot like this, you had to figure it might just be this crafty California-based conditioner.
As the mile and a sixteenth tour over the Del Mar dirt began, Citizen Bull broke like a shot under the guidance of veteran rider Martin Garcia. As race favorite and previously unbeaten East Avenue stumbled out of the gate and was shuffled back, Baffert’s Bull took command heading into the back stretch. Cruising with confidence on the front end with an unthreatened -lead, moderate fractions (23.44 opening quarter, 47.89 half mile) were thrown down.
With the highly regarded East Avenue and well-bet Chancer McPatrick far back, the Bull charged into the home stretch still in complete command. Continuing to fend off the threat of stablemate Gaming, this grandson of Distorted Humor ran strongly through the wire. Booted home in classic Martin Garcia gate-to-wire fashion, Citizen Bull finished a good length and a half in front.
“Citizen Bull is a really nice horse that is getting better”, says Baffert. “That was Martin Garcia at his best. He has always been good at getting fast horses out of the gate and into the race. He gets them to relax on the lead and finish.”
The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile win for Citizen Bull was his third in four career stats and increased his bankroll to just over $1.3 million in on-track earnings. It marked the sixth win in this race for Baffert and that is no bull… or maybe it was !!!
