Kentucky Derby works + video: Rodríguez is 1 of 3 on tab
Top 3-year-olds Rodríguez and Baeza each had their final local works Sunday at Santa Anita prior to shipping to Churchill Downs for Kentucky Derby 2025.
Rodríguez, the winner of the Grade 2 Wood Memorial on April 5 at Aqueduct, worked a solo five furlongs under jockey Martín García in 1:00.4 for six-time Derby-winning trainer Bob Baffert.
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Baeza, who needs three defections to get in the gate at Churchill Downs, drilled in company stablemate Atitlan, a multiple graded-stakes winner on turf, for trainer John Shirreffs. Working under jockey Héctor Berrios, he was credited with a seven-furlong work in 1:28.0. Shirreffs clocked the McKinzie colt in 1:28.2.
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“Because his morning gallops have been a little on the easy side, I wanted to give him a longer work to put a little more air in him and with a good finish,” Shirreffs said.
Baeza’s work was his second since he was the runner-up to Journalism in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 5. On Monday at Santa Anita, Baeza worked four furlongs in 50.0 seconds.
Baffert came away happy with Rodríguez’s first work since Mike Smith rode to the Wood victory.
“All went well,” Baffert said.
Rodríguez, a colt by Authentic, will be joined in the Kentucky Derby by stablemate Citizen Bull, who on Friday worked six furlongs in 1:11.8. It was Citizen Bull’s first work since finishing fourth in the Santa Anita Derby. Baffert said Rodríguez, Citizen Bull and other horses he is running during Kentucky Derby week at Churchill Downs will ship out either Tuesday or Thursday.
Rodríguez will enter the Kentucky Derby with a record of 5: 2-2-1 and $522,800 in earnings for an extensive ownership group that includes SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables and Stonestreet Stables.
Shirreffs said Baeza will depart for Kentucky either Wednesday or Thursday.
“It depends on the space available, but the sooner the better,” Shirreffs said.
If Baeza were to make the Kentucky Derby field, Shirreffs would be shooting for his second victory in America’s most famous race. In 2005, Shirreffs famously shocked the world when Giacomo won at odds of 50-1.
Flavien Prat will have the mount if Baeza makes the field.
Baeza is owned in partnership by C R K Stable and breeder Grandview Equine. He has a record of 4: 1-2-0 with $148,500 in earnings.
California Burrito, who is fourth on the Derby waiting list but more likely to go in the Pat Day Mile (G2), also worked Sunday. He was clocked at 47.2 seconds for his half-mile breeze on the fast main track at Churchill Downs.
Rodríguez (Authentic), a Grade 2 winner (2025 Wood Memorial), worked five furlongs in 1:00.4 at Santa Anita on Sunday morning. It was the 10th fastest of 59 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start, he won the Wood Memorial (G2) going 1 1/8 miles on April 5 at Aqueduct for trainer Bob Baffert.
Baeza (McKinzie) worked seven furlongs in 1:28.0 at Santa Anita. It was the third fastest of four works at the distance. His previous work was six days ago going four furlongs at Santa Anita. In his last start, he placed second going 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita on April 5 in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) for trainer John Shirreffs.
California Burrito (Army Mule) worked four furlongs in 47.2 seconds at Churchill Downs. It was the second fastest of 54 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Churchill Downs. In his last start, he placed seventh going 1 1/8 miles on the synthetic track at Turfway Park on March 22 in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) for trainer Tommy Drury.