Jockey Martin Garcia knows how to time moves in a race, but his timing was even better when he called trainer Bob Baffert on the phone. It led to victory aboard Citizen Bull in the Oct. 5 American Pharoah Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park.
"He happened to call me to check in," said Baffert, who realized that he needed a rider for Citizen Bull because Mike Smith was headed to Keeneland for the Oct. 5 card. "It was the day of the draw—that morning."
Baffert asked Garcia what he was doing Saturday, and the jockey picked up the mount on Citizen Bull, a 2-year-old colt by Into Mischief, as well as on Nooni, who finished second in the Oak Leaf Stakes (G2).
When the gate opened in the 1 1/16-mile American Pharoah, Garcia was ready. He and Citizen Bull burst out of the gate almost as fast as favored Getaway Car, also trained by Baffert. Citizen Bull took the lead, getting the first quarter-mile in :23.85, but Getaway Car was never far behind.
Getaway Car kept the pressure on until the three-eighths pole, when Citizen Bull started to pull away. Citizen Bull had two lengths on his stablemate in midstretch and flashed under the wire by the same margin in 1:44.30. Getaway Car finished 5 3/4 lengths ahead of third-place McKinzie Street.
Garcia had ridden Citizen Bull in his debut Aug. 17 at Del Mar because leading rider Juan Hernandez "had days," Baffert recalled. Garcia and Citizen Bull won by three-quarters of a length. Flavien Prat, Smith, and Hernandez piloted Baffert's three horses in the Sept. 8 Del Mar Futurity (G1). Prat won aboard Gaming, while Smith finished third on Citizen Bull and Hernandez ran fourth on Getaway Car.
"At Del Mar, he really needed that race," Baffert said of Citizen Bull. "Mike said he got tired. The colt was heavy—he's still heavy. I think he will get so much out of this race."
The American Pharoah is a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In race, which gives Citizen Bull a berth to the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1). It also awards Kentucky Derby (G1) points to the top five finishers as part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby series. Thus, Citizen Bull earned 10 points, Getaway Car five points, McKinzie Street three points, Emerald Bay (also trained by Baffert) two points, and Show of Force one point.
Baffert swept the 2-year-old stakes on the Santa Anita card, winning the Oak Leaf earlier in the afternoon with Non Compliant. It was the 13th time the trainer had won each race and the sixth time he won them both in the same year. Baffert also accomplished the latter feat with Bast and Eight Rings in 2019, Executiveprivilege and Power Broker in 2012, Composure and Kafwain in 2002, Notable Career and Flame Thrower in 2000, and Vivid Angel and Souvenir Copy in 1997.
By running one-two with Citizen Bull and Getaway Car, Baffert also saddled the exacta for the large group that owns both horses: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert Masterson, Tom Ryan, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan. SF, Starlight, and Madaket purchased both colts at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, paying $675,000 for Citizen Bull from the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment and $700,000 for Getaway Car from Gainesway.
Robert and Lawana Low bred Citizen Bull in Kentucky from the unraced Distorted Humor mare No Joke. The mare is a half sister to stakes winners Moonshine Memories and Indian Evening. It is the family of 1997 Horse of the Year Favorite Trick, a half brother to second dam Unenchantedevening.
Citizen Bull, Gina Romantica, Leslie's Rose, Laurel River, and Newgate are 2024 grade 1 winners sired by Into Mischief , who has been the North American leading sire five times. The stallion stood for a 2024 stud fee of $250,000 at Spendthrift Farm near Lexington.
