Derby trail: 4 Baffert hopefuls including Citizen Bull work
Trainer Bob Baffert worked four of his Kentucky Derby prospects Monday at Santa Anita.
Best regarded of the group is juvenile champion Citizen Bull, who worked six furlongs in 1:12.0. The son of Into Mischief is the 7-1 favorite at Caesars Nevada Sportsbook on Monday afternoon, as well as the 9-1 third choice behind Journalism and Sovereignty in the Kentucky Derby Future Wager pool that closed Sunday evening.
The six-furlong bullet was jointly earned by two other Baffert 3-year-olds, Grade 2 winner Barnes and Oaklawn maiden winner Cornucopian, who worked in company according to a Monday news release from Santa Anita. Each covered the distance in 1:11.8. Barnes and Cornucopian are both 12-1 at Caesars Nevada and both closed at 15-1 in the latest KDFW pool.
Monday's five-furlong bullet at Santa Anita went to yet another Baffert 3-year-old, the Grade 1 winner Gaming. He covered the distance in 59.0 seconds, fastest of 71. Coming off an eighth-place finish in the Southwest (G3), Gaming is 50-1 at Caesars Nevada and was not an individual interest in the fifth KDFW pool.
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These six horses in Kentucky Derby futures worked across the country Monday morning:
Barnes (Into Mischief), a Grade 2 winner (2025 San Vicente), worked six furlongs in 1:11.8 at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the fastest of four works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Santa Anita. In his last start he placed second in the San Felipe (G2) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Santa Anita on March 1 for trainer Bob Baffert.
Citizen Bull (Into Mischief), a two-time Grade 1 winner (2024 Breeders' Cup Juvenile, 2024 American Pharoah), worked six furlongs in 1:12.0 at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the third fastest of four works at the distance. His previous work was nine days ago going six furlongs at Santa Anita. In his last start he won the Robert B. Lewis (G3) going one mile on the main track at Santa Anita on Feb. 1 for trainer Bob Baffert.
Cornucopian (Into Mischief) worked six furlongs in 1:11.8 at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the fastest of four works at the distance. His previous work was 12 days ago going four furlongs at Santa Anita. In his last start he won a maiden race going six furlongs on the main track at Oaklawn on Feb. 23 for trainer Bob Baffert.
Gaming (Game Winner), a Grade 1 winner (2024 Del Mar Futurity), worked five furlongs in 59.0 seconds at Santa Anita on Monday morning. It was the fastest of 71 works at the distance. His previous work was 10 days ago going six furlongs at Santa Anita. In his last start he placed eighth in the Southwest (G3) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Oaklawn on Jan. 25 for trainer Bob Baffert.
Poster (Munnings), a Grade 2 winner (2024 Remsen), worked five furlongs in 1:01.6 at Turfway Park on Monday morning. It was the fourth fastest of eight works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going six furlongs at Turfway Park. In his last start he placed third in the Sam F. Davis going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 8 for trainer Eoin Harty.
Yinzer (Twirling Candy) worked four furlongs in 50.0 seconds at Fair Grounds on Monday morning. It was the 10th fastest of 15 works at the distance. His previous work was eight days ago going six furlongs at Fair Grounds. In his last start he won a maiden race going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Fair Grounds on Feb. 15 for trainer Steve Asmussen.