Santa Anita Stable Notes Saturday, March 29, 2025

STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN

TOP SANTA ANITA DERBY PROSPECTS GEAR UP WITH SATURDAY DRILLS

Journalism, Citizen Bull, Rodriguez and Baeza all worked Saturday at Santa Anita ahead of potential starts in next weekend’s GI Santa Anita Derby.

Journalism hit the track at about 6:30 a.m. with jockey Umberto Rispoli aboard. He turned in a five-furlong solo work clocked in 1:01.40. Last Saturday, Journalism also worked five furlongs in 1:01.40 while in company.

“I let him run a little bit down the lane with a solid gallop-out,” trainer Michael McCarthy said of the most recent work. “He did everything we asked of him.”

By Curlin, Journalism exits a scintillating win in the GII DK Horse San Felipe Stakes when making his 3-year-old debut March 1 at Santa Anita. The eye-catching performance earned a 108 Beyer Speed Figure, which is the highest recorded this year by an active 3-year-old. It also propelled him to favoritism in the most recent Kentucky Derby Future Wager.

McCarthy said Journalism will remain on his “regular routine” between now and next Saturday’s Santa Anita Derby with daily gallops.

“Nothing special,” he added.

Journalism is 4: 3-0-1 with $338,880 in earnings for breeder Don Alberto Stable and co-owners Bridlewood Farm, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Elayne Stables 5 LLC and Robert V. Lapenta. Prior to the San Felipe, Journalism won the GII Los Alamitos Futurity in December.

Citizen Bull, trained by Bob Baffert, worked five furlongs in company in a swift 58.40 seconds with jockey Juan Hernandez aboard. It was the fastest of 42 works at the distance. Citizen Bull’s workmate, 4-year-old colt Dothraki, was timed in 59.40 seconds.

Citizen Bull won the GIII Robert B. Lewis on Feb. 1 at Santa Anita in his only start this year. Last year, he earned the Eclipse Award as the champion 2-year-old male after winning both the GI American Pharoah at Santa Anita and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar.

Citizen Bull has a record of 5: 4-0-1 with $1,421,000 in earnings for owners SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables and partners.

Rodriguez, also trained by Baffert, worked five furlongs by himself in 59.60 seconds. In two starts this year the colt by Authentic was second in the Robert B. Lewis and third in the San Felipe. He shares a similar ownership group as Citizen Bull.

Baeza, trained by John Shirreffs, worked six furlongs in company in 1:12.00 with jockey Hector Berrios aboard. His workmate, Bolt It Down, is an unraced 3-year-old colt by Bolt d’Oro. He was credited with a four-furlong work in 47.0 seconds, which was the second-fastest at the distance.

Of Baeza’s work, Shirreffs said “just getting him a step closer.”

Baeza exits a dominant 4 ¾ length maiden win going a mile at Santa Anita on Feb. 14. The colt by McKinzie out of Puca is a half brother to 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage and 2024 Belmont Stakes winner Dornoch.

In addition to Baeza, Shirreffs also nominated maiden Westwood to the Santa Anita Derby. Winless in three starts, the gelding by Authentic worked five furlongs in 1:01.00.

Next Saturday’s blockbuster Santa Anita Derby card will be drawn on Monday. Also on the program is the GII Fasig-Tipton Santa Anita Oaks, GIII Monrovia Stakes presented by Don Julio and both the Echo Eddie and Evening Jewel for horses bred or sired in California.

WORKS: OAKS NOMINEE LOOK FORWARD, EAGLES FLIGHT ON TAB

Look Forward, who is nominated to next Saturday’s GII Fasig-Tipton Santa Anita Oaks, highly regarded allowance winner Eagles Flight and GI Santa Anita Handicap runner-up Express Train were among 168 horses to record timed workouts Saturday at Santa Anita.

Look Forward worked five furlongs in 1:00.40 for trainer Michael McCarthy. By Bolt d’Oro, Look Forward won the Fasig-Tipton Santa Ynez on Feb. 23 at Santa Anita to kick off her sophomore campaign. She then tried the GIII Honeybee at Oaklawn where she broke poorly and finished seventh in a 13-horse field on Feb. 23.

Eagles Flight worked five furlongs in 1:01.20 for trainer John Sadler. It was his second work since rolling to a 4 ½ length allowance win at Santa Anita March 8 when making his third start. By Curlin, Eagles Flight is a half brother to undefeated 2022 Horse of the Year Flightline.

Express Train worked five furlongs in 1:00.80 for trainer John Shirreffs. In the Big ‘Cap, Express Train proved second-best to runaway winner Locked. He finished 2 ¾ lengths clear of third-place finisher Hit Show.

Continuing on the comeback trail for trainer Michael McCarthy was Endlessly, a veteran of last year’s Kentucky Derby who hasn’t started since the GI Belmont Derby last July. By Oscar Performance, Endlessly drilled five furlongs in 1:00.40. It was his ninth work since Feb. 2.

Working on the synthetic training track was multiple graded stakes winner Balnikhov. Trained by Phil D’Amato, Balnikhov drilled five furlongs in 59.20 seconds. The 6-year-old gelding hasn’t started since finishing 10th in the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 25.

CARRYOVER HELPS FUEL $5K PAYOUT IN FRIDAY’S PICK 6

Bolstered by a $71,789 carryover, Friday’s Pick Six pool soared to $618,735. There ended being 70 tickets with all six winners paying $5,199.80. The consolation payout for tickets with 5-of-6 winners was $71.40.

It was a chalky start to Friday’s Pick Six sequence as the first three races were all won by favorites. Then things got interesting. Maltese Falcon, ridden by Hector Berrios for trainer Leonard Powell, won the seventh race and paid $8 after being bet down to the 3-1 second choice. The eighth race was won by Il Bellator, who paid $18.20. He had Geovanni Franco aboard for trainer Jose Bautista. Then in the nightcap, Practical Dazzle won under Juan Hernandez and paid $19.60. Practical Dazzle is trained by Brendan Galvin.

The winning horses in Friday’s Pick Six starting with the fourth race were #4 Gracie’s Big Day ($3.20), #7 Cyprus Moon ($4.20), #1 Empress Lorrayne ($3.20), #5 Maltese Falcon ($8), #3 Il Bellator ($18.20) and #8 Practical Dazzle ($19.60).

Saturday’s Pick Six starts with the fifth race at approximately 3:08 p.m. PT.

FINISH LINES: Saturday’s $1 Coast-to-Coast starts at 2:15 p.m. PT with the 12th race from Gulfstream Park…There is a $1 Super High 5 carryover of $15,005 for Saturday’s 10th and final race. Post time is set for 5:41 p.m…In Saturday’s GIII Wilshire Stakes, Kazushi Kimura replaces Mike Smith aboard Tahini (15-1). Smith traveled to Gulfstream Park after earlier this week picking up the mount on Madaket Road in the GI Florida Derby…Trainer Jose Bautista’s win in Friday’s eighth race with Il Bellator ($18.20) was his first-ever at Santa Anita. According to Equibase statistics, Bautista has won 131 races since 2010.

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