Citizen Bull and Rodriguez record final drills for Kentucky Derby 151

The Bob Baffert trained duo of Citizen Bull and Rodriguez have both posted their final breezes in preparation for the May 3^rd Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs.

Rodiguez’s latest work came on April 27, when the dark bay zipped through five furlongs in one minute flat.

“Amazing work; amazing,” jockey Martin Garica, who was aboard for the work, said. “He was in hand all the way.”

Baffert echoed that same sentiment a little later at his barn.

Citizen Bull, last year’s 2-year-old champion, posted his final move on Monday, April 28, also under Martin Garcia, breezed five furlongs in a very swift :58 2/5.

In an interview afterward, Baffert said that despite the rapid time, “He looked like he was going easy, just cruising around there. He is fast horse.”

This was the third timed work for Citizen Bull in the past 10 days, the only horse in the Derby field with such a rigorous schedule.

When post positions were drawn on April 26, Citizen Bull and jockey Martin Garcia got post one and Rodriguez, with Mike Smith, in slot four. Citizen Bull, who likes to run on or near the lead, will need to come out of the gate “like his hair is on fire” according to Baffert.

Citizen Bull, who is a three-time graded winner of $1,451,000, is owned by SF Racing LLC (Gavin Murphy), Starlight Racing (Jack Wolf), Madaket Stables LLC (Sol Kumin), Stonestreet Stables LLC (Barbara Banke), Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables (Matt Dorman), Robert E. Masterson, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital LLC (W. Gregg Slager) & Catherine Donovan.

Rodriguez, who also races close to the pace, won the Wood Memorial (G2) in his most recent start. He has earned $522,800 and is owned by the same partnership as Citizen Bull.

A victory by either horse would give Baffert a record seventh Derby win. His previous winners are Silver Charm (1997), Real Quiet (1998), War Emblem (2002), American Pharoah (2015), Justify (2018) and Authentic (2020).