Newly Crowned Champion Citizen Bull Fires Bullet For Baffert

[Wandering Eyes]

Among several notable workers for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert on Saturday morning at Santa Anita was Citizen Bull (Into Mischief), who this week was named the 2024 champion 2-year-old male.

With rain expected later in the day and continuing through the weekend, it was a busy training session on both the main track and training track as 229 horses recorded timed workouts ahead of the weather.

Citizen Bull worked in company with older horse Pilot Commander (Justify), who most recently was fourth in the GI Malibu Dec. 26. Citizen Bull and Pilot Commander were each clocked going five furlongs in 59 flat. They were the fastest of 106 works at the distance.

The newly crowned champion is a candidate to run in next Saturday's GIII Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita, which is a points-paying prep for the GI Kentucky Derby. Citizen Bull has not started since winning the GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Del Mar Nov. 1.

Also on the tab was Madaket Road (Quality Road), who drilled five furlongs in :59.60 seconds, which was the fourth-fastest work at the distance. The 3-year-old exits a maiden win going six furlongs at Santa Anita Dec. 26. He is nominated to the Lewis as well.

Baffert also worked 3-year-old filly and GISW Tenma (Nyquist), older horses GISP Mirahmadi (Into Mischief) and Richi (Chi) (Practical Joke) and a 3-year-old colt by Curlin out of Hall of Fame mare Beholder who has yet to be named.

Tenma, who most recently won the GII Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos last month, worked four furlongs in 48 flat.

The 3-year-old colt by Curlin out of Beholder went four furlongs in a sharp :47.40 seconds. It was the fourth-fastest of 59 works at the distance. The $4 million auction purchase for owner Zedan Racing has worked eight times since Dec. 8.

Mirahmadi, who is targeting the GI Santa Anita Handicap on Mar. 1, worked four furlongs in :48.60 seconds. It was his second work since an impressive front-running allowance win going a mile Jan. 4.

Richi worked four furlongs in :47.40 seconds. A Group 1 winner in her native Chile, Richi served notice Jan. 4 when winning the GIII Las Flores Stakes going six furlongs in her second U.S. start.

Notable workers for trainer Michael McCarthy included 'TDN Rising Star' Bullard (Gun Runner). Nominated to the Lewis and most recently was third in the GII San Vicente Stakes in Arcadia Jan. 4, the colt drilled four furlongs in 48.60.

Trainer Richard Mandella worked Kopion, who was an impressive winner of the GI La Brea Stakes when returning from an 8 1/2-month layoff. The Omaha Beach filly drilled five furlongs in 1:00.60.

Click here to access many of these Saturday's workouts.

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