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| Staff Writer |
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Bob Baffert will field a powerful two-pronged attack in the 151st Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on 3 May, with champion 2YO Citizen Bull and Wood Memorial winner Rodriguez both completing their final preparations at Santa Anita Park.
Baffert's Derby team has been reduced from three runners after the withdrawal of Madaket Road, who will instead target the Pat Day Mile on the Derby undercard.
"Madaket Road worked well, but we feel the distance is better for him at one mile," Baffert explained. "Citizen Bull worked well today and Rodriguez will work Sunday."
Citizen Bull, who claimed the American Pharoah Stakes before winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Del Mar, will be seeking redemption after a disappointing fourth-place finish in the Santa Anita Derby earlier this month.
The colt showed promising signs in his penultimate workout on 18 April, completing six furlongs in 1:11 4/5 at Santa Anita - the fastest of four works at that distance.
Rodriguez completed his final preparation at Santa Anita on 20 April, working five furlongs at 1:00 2/5. It was his first serious exercise since winning the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct Racetrack under Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith.
"All went well," Baffert reported simply.
Rodriguez enters the Derby with a record of two wins, two seconds and a third from five starts, accumulating US$522,800 in earnings for his ownership group that includes SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables and partners.
Baffert plans to ship Rodriguez, Citizen Bull and his other Churchill Downs runners to Kentucky on either 22 or 24 April.
Meanwhile, Santa Anita Derby runner-up Baeza remains hopeful of securing a place in the maximum 20-runner field. Currently 23rd on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard, the John Shirreffs-trained colt completed his final California workout on 20 April.
Working alongside stablemate Atitlan, Baeza covered seven furlongs in 1:28 under jockey Hector Berrios.
"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.
If Baeza does make the Derby field, Shirreffs would be seeking his second victory in the race following Giacomo's 50-1 shock in 2005. The colt is scheduled to ship to Kentucky on 23 or 24 April.
"It depends on the space available, but the sooner the better," Shirreffs added.
Madaket Road's withdrawal has improved Neoequos's chances of making the field. The Saffie Joseph Jr-trained colt, third in both the Florida Derby and Fountain of Youth Stakes in recent outings, worked five furlongs in 1:00.51 at Gulfstream Park on 19 April.
"Right now, we're going to the Derby. The distance is still a question mark, but he keeps running well enough and fast enough on the figures to keep going and try," Joseph said.
Florida Derby winner Tappan Street, trained by Brad Cox for WinStar Farm, CHC and Cold Press Racing, completed his preparation with a five-furlong breeze in 1:01 2/5 at Payson Park Training Center before shipping to Kentucky on 19 April.
Also finalising Derby preparations was American Promise, who worked seven furlongs in 1:25 1/5 from the starting gate at Oaklawn Park.
Martin Garcia is set to make a triumphant return to America's most prestigious race after a decade away, partnering champion 2YO Citizen Bull for six-time Derby winner Baffert.
The 40-year-old Mexican jockey, whose best previous Derby finish was third aboard Dortmund in 2015, expressed his delight at the opportunity.
"It's a dream come true," said Garcia. "It's what every jockey wants."
Garcia's association with Citizen Bull began fortuitously when he happened to call Baffert on entry day for the American Pharoah Stakes last October.
"I go, 'Hey, I'm glad you called. What are you doing Saturday?'" Baffert recalled after their success in that Gr.1 contest at Santa Anita Park.
"I'm excited to get back, most of all because I know I have a very good horse to ride," Garcia said.
Regarding Citizen Bull's disappointing Santa Anita Derby run, Garcia commented: "I think it just wasn't his day. Horses can be similar to people; sometimes we all have difficult days. But everybody knows he's a superstar horse. Hopefully, we can get a good result in Kentucky."
After the colt's impressive workout, Garcia noted: "He worked really good. Mr. Baffert told me to be a little off the pace. Then in the stretch when it was time to let him run, he switched leads perfectly and started reaching out like he does. The gallop-out was also really good."
Garcia, who has amassed 1,829 career wins and more than US$111 million in purse earnings, is relishing his return to racing's biggest stage.
"I'm just really excited," Garcia concluded. "It means a lot to me."