If you are an avid horse racing fan, you might have heard about Bob Baffert. Indeed, the American horse racing trainer is one of the most popular yet controversial people in the industry, and he has a large following behind him that awaits his horses to run in major races. Every year, he trains many young colts, and some even prove to be some of the best in the industry, owing to their performance on the track.

This year too is no different for Baffert, as he has a lot of responsibilities on his hands. However, with the Kentucky Derby coming in a few months, many heads are already fixed, watching a certain colt trained by the American, who has already made his mark in the industry with his recent performances in various races.

Yes, I’m talking about Citizen Bull. He will become a three-year-old right before the Kentucky Derby this season, and Bob Baffert is already off to a fantastic start with him. Indeed, a few days ago, on February 1, he participated in the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita. The colt has raced before on the track, that too in a Grade 1 race, so this was an easy one for him.

Indeed, Citizen Bull stumbled leaving stalls but chased leaders on the inner and led the race smoothly after 1 furlong. Baffert’s colt never looked back and just kept running and maintained a great lead when he crossed the finish line at Santa Anita, securing a comfortable win as he was nearly 4 lengths ahead of the second-place finisher.

However, this was his only Grade 3 race in his career, as the colt has starred in multiple Grade 1 races. Now, that’s just fascinating to see what Baffert has raised, which might just be the next favorite in the upcoming Kentucky Derby. Citizen Bull’s Maiden was on August 17, 2024, and he swiftly secured the first-place finish. But his next race, which was the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity at Del Mar, saw him finish third.

Considering that it was Baffert’s colt’s first major race, it was a good position. However, he showcased his potential at the Grade 1 American Pharoah in Santa Anita, where he prevailed over the competition and secured the first-place finish. The colt, though, didn’t stop there with his Grade 1 win; when he arrived in the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile, he also secured the win and immediately caught the attention of the horse racing enthusiasts.

Currently, Citizen Bull is in first place when it comes to the horses in the Road to Kentucky Derby list. Indeed, he has 60 points, which is way ahead of the second-place horse Speed King, who just has 25 points. However, only time will tell how these horses will compete in the list and who will actually make it to the Churchill Downs race in a few months. And for Baffert, this won’t be his first time either, as he has trained a lot of winners in the past years.

Bob Baffert’s record in the Kentucky Derby

The Kentucky Derby is the first race of the American Triple Crown series of horse racing. It will be followed by the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes. For Bob Baffert, these races are not new, as he has been competing in the Derby since the 1990s. He is one of the oldest trainers in the sport, and his horses have made history in many racecourses.

Baffert’s first Kentucky Derby win came in 1997 when Silver Charm grabbed the victory as he was ridden by Gary Stevens. However, this wasn’t the only Derby win for the American horse trainer, as he won again in 1998, 2002, 2015, 2018, 2020, and 2021. However, the 2021 win, secured by Medina Spirit, was scraped from his career, as the horse failed a drug test following the race.

This also caused a lot of controversies in the community on his name, as many considered that he doped his horses before the races. Baffert received a three-year ban from the Kentucky Derby, but he plans to make a comeback in the 2025 edition. This race will also be interesting to watch, as Baffert’s horses are notoriously fast on the courses, and who knows, Citizen Bull might be the next big thing in the American horse racing industry.