Champion Citizen Bull Makes 3-Year-Old Debut In Saturday’s Robert B. Lewis Stakes

By Victor Ryan —-

Citizen Bull and jockey Martin Garcia win the Grade I $2,000,000 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Friday, November 1, 2024 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Del Mar, CA.
Benoit Photo

ARCADIA, CA (Jan. 27, 2025)—Citizen Bull, the champion 2-year-old colt of 2024, will make his much-anticipated 3-year-old debut Saturday in the Grade III, $200,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes going a mile at Santa Anita.

The Lewis is part of Santa Anita’s series for 3-year-olds culminating with the GI Santa Anita Derby on April 5. Qualifying points for the 151st Kentucky Derby on May 3 at Churchill Downs will also be on the line.

Citizen Bull is making his first start since a front-running, 1 ½ -length victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Nov. 1 at Del Mar. The Juvenile was his second Grade I win after previously taking the American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita in October. Trained by Bob Baffert, Citizen Bull was named last year’s champion 2-year-old male at the 54th Eclipse Awards ceremony last week in South Florida.

By Into Mischief, Citizen Bull has worked seven times since mid-December for his sophomore unveiling. On Saturday, he signaled his readiness with a bullet five-furlong work in 59.0 seconds at Santa Anita.

Citizen Bull will be ridden by Martin Garcia, who was aboard for his wins in both the American Pharoah and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. He is 4: 3-0-1 with $1,301,000 in earnings for owners SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables et al.

Baffert also entered recent maiden winners Rodriguez and Madaket Road. Both colts have similar ownership groups as Citizen Bull.

Rodriguez uncorked a 101 Beyer Speed Figure when graduating going a mile at Santa Anita in his second start on Jan. 4. By Authentic, Rodriguez’s on Sunday had a sharp five-furlong work in 59.60 seconds while in company with graded stakes winner Getaway Car. He will be ridden by Juan Hernandez, who was also aboard for his maiden win.

Madaket Road earned his diploma going six furlongs under Hernandez when making his second start on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita. Previously, the Quality Road colt debuted in the GIII Bob Hope going seven furlongs at Del Mar and finished second on Nov. 17.

Madaket Road has worked four times since graduation day, which includes a five-furlong drill in 59.60 seconds on Saturday. With Hernandez sticking with Rodriguez, Frankie Dettori takes over on Madaket Road.

Clock Tower will be switching to dirt for trainer Wesley Ward. Most recently, Clock Tower scored on the front-end in the GIII Cecil B. DeMille going a mile on turf at Del Mar Dec. 1. Prior to that, he was third in the GII Bourbon Stakes going 1 1/16 miles on turf at Keeneland in early October. Clock Tower will have jockey Gerardo Corrales in the irons. Owned by Mrs. Fitriani Hay, Clock Tower is 5: 2-1-2 with $225,938 in earnings.

THE GIII ROBERT B. LEWIS WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 4 of 10 Approximate post time 1:30 p.m. PT

Madaket Road – Lanfranco Dettori – 120
Citizen Bull – Martin Garcia – 124
Rodriguez – Juan Hernandez – 120
Clock Tower – Gerardo Corrales – 124
Valentines Candy – Welfin Orantes – 120

With 10 races Saturday, including four stakes, first post time is 12 p.m. PT. Admission gates will open at 10 a.m. ​​​​​​​

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