Journalism, Citizen Bull Meet in Santa Anita Derby

Journalism  and Citizen Bull , the top two on many lists for this year's Kentucky Derby (G1), are scheduled to meet in the 1 1/8-mile Santa Anita Derby (G1) April 5. The race has been a reliable indication of ability in the Run for the Roses, as 14 horses in the last half-century have come out of the Santa Anita Derby to win the Kentucky Derby.

However, because Journalism and Citizen Bull have the credentials to scare off the competition, the Santa Anita Derby will not offer as many qualifying points as other major preps around the country. Under a rule change by Churchill Downs for this year's Kentucky Derby, if a race draws five horses, it will receive only 75% of its original qualifying points. Four runners will reduce that to 50%.

This year's Santa Anita Derby, originally offering 100-50-25-15-10 qualifying points, has drawn a field of five. Michael McCarthy entered Journalism; Bob Baffert entered Citizen Bull and Barnes ; and John Shirreffs entered Baeza  and Westwood .

The rule change has already cost points for Journalism and Barnes. They finished one-two in the five-horse San Felipe Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park March 1, earning 37.5 and 18.75 points, respectively. Journalism also earned 10 points by winning the 2024 Los Alamitos Futurity (G2). A minimum of 40 points has been necessary to get into the Kentucky Derby in the past two runnings.

Journalism, to be ridden in the Santa Anita Derby by Umberto Rispoli from the rail, will be making his fifth lifetime start. Following a third in his debut last Oct. 27, the son of Curlin   has reeled off three consecutive wins, by 2 1/2 lengths in a one-mile maiden event, 3 1/2 lengths in the 1 1/16-mile Los Alamitos Futurity, and 1 3/4 lengths in the 1 1/16-mile San Felipe.

McCarthy trains Journalism for a large partnership that includes Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, which purchased the colt for $825,000 at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton's The Saratoga Sale. Aron Wellman, president and founder of Eclipse, has a long history with McCarthy, having sent the trainer horses as soon as he went out on his own in California about 10 years ago.

"He's a grade 1 trainer and a grade 1 person," Wellman said recently. "It's so good to see him doing what he's doing."

Journalism could give McCarthy his first victory in the Santa Anita Derby. The trainer has one Triple Crown win, with Rombauer   in the 2021 Preakness Stakes (G1), though he has been involved with many others when he was an assistant to Todd Pletcher.

Baffert, of course, has a string of wins in Triple Crown races and the Santa Anita Derby. He has won the Santa Anita Derby a record nine times. 

"I think it's the toughest (Kentucky Derby) prep of the year," Baffert said. "Journalism is the horse to beat and we still don't really know how good Baeza is. He's a nice horse. I think we'll know more when they hit the three-eighths pole."

Baffert will saddle Citizen Bull and Barnes, both sons of perennial leading sire Into Mischief  .

Citizen Bull, a $675,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase who was last year's Eclipse Award-winning 2-year-old male, has 60 qualifying points to the Kentucky Derby. He brings a three-race winning streak into the Santa Anita Derby, by two lengths in the 1 1/16-mile 2024 American Pharoah Stakes (G1), 1 1/2 lengths in the 1 1/16-mile 2024 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), and 3 3/4 lengths in the one-mile Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3).

Citizen Bull led throughout the Feb. 1 Lewis under regular rider Martin Garcia, who will be back aboard from post 2.

"He's a horse that we're very fortunate to have. He loves what he does and doesn't miss a beat in his training," Baffert said. "When it comes to a mile and an eighth, you never know until they do it. But he's coming in well and I feel pretty good about him."

A $3.2 million yearling, Barnes won his first two races, including the seven-furlong San Vicente Stakes (G2) by 5 1/2 lengths. He then ran second in the San Felipe to Journalism. 

"At the 2 1/2 (-furlong marker), he looked like a winner then just got tired the last part of it," Baffert said. "I think he got a lot out of it. He's really fit and we already know he's fast."

Juan Hernandez has the call on Barnes.

Shirreffs has won the Santa Anita Derby three times: with Tiago  in 2007, Gormley  in 2017, and Honor A. P.   in 2020. Both of his horses are by former Baffert runners. Westwood is by 2020 Kentucky Derby winner Authentic  , a son of Into Mischief, while Baeza is by McKinzie  , a son of 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense  .

C R K Stable owns Westwood, a $700,000 Keeneland sale graduate who has started three times, most recently finishing second in a maiden race. Tiago Pereira will ride Westwood from post 3.

Baeza is owned by C R K Stable in partnership with breeder Grandview Equine and cost $1.2 million at Keeneland. He is a half brother to 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage   and 2024 Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Dornoch  . Baeza also has started three times, most recently breaking his maiden by 4 3/4 lengths. Hector Berrios is set to pilot Baeza from post 5.