Santa Anita was the site of important workouts Saturday as Eclipse Award-winning juvenile Citizen Bull and promising sophomore Baeza continued preparations for next month’s GI Santa Anita Derby.
Citizen Bull (Into Mischief) completed a six-furlong breeze in 1:12.60 under former jockey Juan Ochoa for trainer Bob Baffert. The $675,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase won three of four starts during his championship juvenile campaign, culminating in a front-running 3 3/4-length victory over stablemate Gaming (Game Winner) in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar last November.
The bay colt began his 3-year-old season with an impressive win in the GIII Robert B. Lewis Stakes on February 1, defeating TDN Rising Star Rodriguez (Authentic).
Meanwhile, Baeza (McKinzie) worked five furlongs in 1:02.20 with jockey Hector Berrios aboard. The half-brother to 2023 GI Kentucky Derby winner Mage (Good Magic) and last year’s GI Belmont Stakes hero Mage (Good Magic) will attempt to earn his way into Triple Crown consideration in the April 5 Santa Anita Derby.
Purchased for $1.2 million at Keeneland September, Baeza races for Lee Searing’s CRK Stable and Grandview Equine. After finishing ninth in his turf debut at Del Mar in December, the bay colt has shown significant improvement on dirt — finishing second to Rodriguez in a one-mile maiden event on January 4 before breaking through with a commanding 4 3/4-length victory over the same course and distance on February 14.
Also on the Santa Anita worktab was Madaket Road (Quality Road), who drilled three furlongs in :37 flat. The colt most recently finished second after setting the pace in the GII Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park on February 23.
Work of the Day from @santaanitapark—Baeza worked 5 Furlongs in 1:02.20 on March 8th, 2025, for trainer John Shirreffs. pic.twitter.com/YnSW2hVpl9
