BC Juvenile Win Crowns Citizen Bull Champion 2YO Male

Citizen Bull cemented his title as the top 2-year-old male in the land with a dazzling gate-to-wire triumph in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) Nov. 1 at Del Mar. The strapping son of Into Mischief was voted the 2024 champion 2-year-old male over a talented group of runners that included two-time grade 1 winner Chancer McPatrick and his stablemate, Del Mar Futurity (G1) victor Gaming. Bred in Kentucky by esteemed breeders Robert and Lawana Low out of the Distorted Humor mare No Joke, Citizen Bull was secured for $675,000 as a yearling at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale by the group dubbed "The Avengers," SF Racing, Madaket Stables, and Starlight Racing. While Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert had several impressive maiden winners in his stable over the summer, it was Citizen Bull who would rise to the cream of the crop. Officially campaigned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert Masterson, Tom Ryan, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan, Citizen Bull burst onto the national radar with a game, 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight win during the Del Mar summer meet in his career debut. Wheeling back three weeks later, the bay sprinted once more, this time at seven furlongs, in the Del Mar Futurity (G1) Sept. 8. Closing valiantly from the back of the pack, the colt settled for third behind Gaming. It would be the only time Citizen Bull would lose in 2024. Tackling the 1 1/16-mile distance in the Oct. 5 American Pharoah Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park, Citizen Bull resorted to front-running tactics under jockey Martin Garcia and proved much the best in his final Breeders' Cup prep. Virtually unchallenged on the front end, the colt sailed under the wire two lengths clear of barnmate Getaway Car. The American Pharoah was simply a preview for what was to come when Citizen Bull took on the best 2-year-olds in the country in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Citizen Bull went off at 15-1 on Future Stars Friday, ignored on the tote board with the presence of highly touted Eastern-based juveniles Chancer McPatrick and East Avenue among the stacked field. However, when the gates opened, the showdown between the East vs. West failed to materialize, as East Avenue stumbled badly to his knees and Citizen Bull scampered clear to a healthy advantage. Paving the way around the Del Mar oval, Citizen Bull would never relinquish his lead, repelling a challenge from Gaming at the top of the lane and heading a 1-2 finish in the Juvenile for Baffert. Citizen Bull sported $1,301,000 in earnings and two grade 1 victories at the end of 2024. With Churchill Downs rescinding its ban on Bob Baffert in the past year, all of Citizen Bull's partners were dreaming of red Kentucky Derby (G1) roses following the Breeders' Cup. "Let's hope he stays healthy and goes forward, and I think he can," said Ryan of Citizen Bull. "He's out of a Distorted Humor mare and he's by Into Mischief. We know an Into Mischief can go a mile and a quarter and we know what Distorted Humor can do as a broodmare sire, so there are a lot of indicators that this colt is the real deal."