1 of 3 | Kentucky Derby favorite Citizen Bull romps in Saturday’s Robert B. Lewis Stakes, his first 3-year-old start. Benoit Photography, courtesy of Santa Anita
Feb. 3 (UPI) — After weekend racing, trainer Bob Baffert has the top-ranked candidates for both the Kentucky Derby and the Kentucky Oaks, including solid Derby favorite Citizen Bull, who confirmed his Breeders’ Cup victory with an easy win Saturday at Santa Anita.
It is, of course, still three months until Derby Day, and the standings on the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” leaderboard will change quickly as the value of the races increases.
And the weekend races featured very small fields. But if Citizen Bull and Baffert stablemate filly Tenma continue on their current path, they will be hard to catch.
Other Derby and Oaks contenders still well in the hunt were in action at Aqueduct and Gulfstream Park.
Here they come, spinning out of the turn …
The Road to the Roses
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and Eclipse Award 2-year-old champion Citizen Bull led a Bob Baffert-trained trio home in Saturday’s $200,000 Grade III Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita.
The Into Mischief colt confirmed his lead role on the Kentucky Derby trail, winning by 3 3/4 lengths without much urging by jockey Martin Garcia.
Rodriguez was second after a stop-start trip and it was another 2 1/4 lengths to Madaket Road in third — all three from the Baffert barn. Clock Tower and Valentine’s Candy completed the order of finish, well back of the first three.
“You don’t know until their next start,” said Baffert, who won the Lewis for the 13th time. “He wasn’t cranked up totally, but he is such a good horse that he just caught another gear.
Saturday’s $265,000 Grade III Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park came down to two horses, with Burnham Square stoutly rallying past the favorite, Tappan Street, early in the stretch run to win by 1 3/4 lengths over that one.
Trainer Ian Wilkes said the Grade II Fountain of Youth at the same distance March 1 is “a strong possibility” for Burnham Square, who has won two straight.
At Aqueduct, Captain Cook took the lead in the lane in Saturday’s $250,000 Withers Stakes, shook two rivals and then quelled an upstart effort by long shot Surfside Moon to win by 2 1/4 lengths.
A Practical Joke colt trained by Richard Dutrow Jr., Captain Cook ran 1 1/8 miles on a fast track in 1:51.83 with Manny Franco up, winning his second straight race.
Citizen Bull earned 20 points on the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” leaderboard, where he maintains his No. 1 position with 60. Burnham Square and Captain Cook moved into a five-way tie for third- through-seventh spots.
The Road to the Oaks
Tenma got little more than a well-paid workout in defeating just two rivals in Sunday’s $100,000 Fasig-Tipton Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita.
After a brief duel with long shot Just as Fancy, the Nyquist filly easily strode away and won by 6 1/2 lengths over Cipriani without being asked by jockey Juan Hernandez. Tenma was 3-for-4 as a 2-year-old with victories in the Grade I Del Mar Debutante and Grade I Starlet. Baffert trains her and and Cipriani.
“I didn’t feel like she was mature enough to run in the Breeders’ Cup,” Baffert said of Tenma. “But now she has come a long way. Coming into this race, she was looking really good. The other filly [Cipriani] is just really green and just figuring it out. You will see a big improvement out of her.”
Tenma earned 20 Kentucky Oaks points, elevating her to the top spot on that leaderboard with 33.
Also, Eclatant came from off the pace to win Saturday’s $165,000 Grade III Forward Gal Stakes at Gulfstream Park by 1 1/4 lengths over Stunner, taking the No. 2 spot in the Oaks standings, and Volleyballprincess won Saturday’s $125,000 Ruthless Stakes at Aqueduct by 10 lengths.
Sprint
Maximus Meridius jumped out to the early lead in Saturday’s $175,000 Toboggan Stakes at Aqueduct, and then held off a stubborn bid by Runninsonofagun to win by a neck.
Playmea Tune found his best stride in the stretch run of Saturday night’s $125,000 Forego Stakes at Turfway Park, cruising by rivals to win by 1 3/4 lengths as the favorite.
Filly & Mare Sprint
Kopion stalked the pace made by Hope Road around the turn in Saturday’s $200,000 Grade II Santa Monica Stakes at Santa Anita and took full command at the top of the lane, winning by 4 1/2 lengths over that rival.
Benedetta rose to the occasion in Saturday’s $150,000 American Beauty Stakes at Oaklawn Park, turning a stalking trip into a 1 1/4-length victory over chief rival Fibber.
Turf
Running Bee came from near the back of the field in Saturday’s $175,000 Grade III Tampa Bay Stakes to catch pacesetter Northern Invader and win by 3/4 length in course-record time of 1:38.85.
Charlie’s to Blame led all the way in Saturday’s $165,000 Kitten’s Joy Stakes for 3-year-olds at Gulfstream Park and held on to win by 2 lengths over Maui Strong.
Filly & Mare Turf
Saffron Moon rallied from well back to win the $175,000 Endeavour Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, defeating See You Around by 2 1/4 lengths in 1:39.92.
Vixen took command in the stretch run of Saturday’s $165,000 Sweetest Chant Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Gulfstream Park and kicked away to win by 2 1/4 lengths.
Turf Mile
Rashmi won Saturday’s $100,000 Grade III Megahertz Stakes for fillies and mares at Santa Anita by 2 1/2 lengths over Omaha Girl.
El Potente stalked the pace in Saturday’s $100,000 Grade III Thunder Road Stakes at Santa Anita, took the lead after turning for home and won by 3 lengths.
Turf Sprint
Accomplished Girl edged by pacesetting Speedy Traveler in the final furlong to win Saturday’s $100,000 Robert “Bobby” Kelly Memorial for fillies and mares by 3/4 length.
Around the world, around the clock
Hong Kong
My Wish took the lead in the stretch run of Friday’s Hong Kong Classic Mile, the first leg of the Hong Kong Derby series, and held on to win by a neck over fast-closing Divano. It was the fourth win in eight starts for My Wish.
Trainer Mark Newnham admitted he’s had his issues with the gelding but said things are straightening out and hinted at a continuation toward the March 23 Derby.
“The way he raced today and the position he put himself in and the way he settled, I think he’ll give himself every chance [over a longer distance],” Newman said. “If he learns to settle and conserve his energy, he’s going to be hard to beat.”
The middle leg of the series, the March 2 Hong Kong Classic Cup, is run at 1,800 meters. The Derby is 2,000 meters.
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