Citizen Bull starts march to Derby with commanding Robert B. Lewis S. (G3) win

Bob Baffert’s 2024 2-year-old champion Citizen Bull began his 2025 campaign in rousing style Saturday at Santa Anita Park, where he rolled to a 3 ¾-length victory in the $200,000 Robert B. Lewis S. (G3).

Away from the races since his division-clinching win in the Nov. 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), the strapping bay colt was eager from the outset of Saturday’s one-mile contest for 3-year-olds. He went right to the front, with stablemate Rodriguez pressing him through a half-mile in :47.06. Citizen Bull began to get away from Rodriguez on the turn, then took total control in the stretch to win easily in 1:36.71 on a fast track.

The time earned Citizen Bull a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 98, and also another 20 qualifying points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, upping his total to 60.

“The champ is back,” Baffert said after the race. “The ‘Bull’ looked good coming down [the stretch]. It’s funny, you see him and you don’t realize that he has those gears. He won’t show you that in the morning, but he does have gears.

“My other horses ran really well,” Baffert said of two-three finishers Rodriguez and Madaket Road. “They are learning their styles, and they need a little more racing. We are happy and especially winning the Robert B. Lewis because he was one of my favorite clients of all time.”

Baffert has won the Lewis a record 12 times, including the last six in a row.

Citizen Bull is owned by the conglomerate of SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital LLC and Catherine Donovan. Now a winner of four of five starts, the colt has earned $1,421,000.