Trainer Bob Baffert Looks for Oaks-Derby Double; Weighs in on Citizen Bull, Barnes

Trainer Bob Baffert on Saturday at Santa Anita has a big chance to accomplish something he has done just once in his Hall of Fame career—win both the Santa Anita Derby (G1) and Fasig-Tipton Santa Anita Oaks (G2) in the same year.

Baffert’s lone Derby-Oaks double came in 1999 when General Challenge won the Santa Anita Derby and Excellent Meeting scored in the Santa Anita Oaks. This year, Baffert has two chances in each race to try and equal the feat this year.

Santa Anita Derby 2025 Betting Bible

Get the 2025 Santa Anita Derby Betting Bible, featuring the EXACT race-by-race wagering plans at Santa Anita on April 5, 2025! As an added BONUS, get our Wood Memorial bets, too!

Live bankroll bets are back! Plus get multi-race plays, AI Top 4 selections, Jon White’s picks, and much more!

GET IT FREE!

In the Santa Anita Derby going 1 1/8 miles, Baffert will saddle both 9-5 second choice Citizen Bull and Barnes, who is the 3-1 third choice behind 6-5 favorite Journalism, trained by Michael McCarthy. In the Oaks, Baffert trains both even-money favorite Tenma and Silent Law (8-1), who will be trying two turns for the first time.

Since 1976, only two other trainers beside Baffert have accomplished a Derby-Oaks double. John Sadler was the most recent in 2010 when Sidney’s Candy won the Santa Anita Derby and Crisp took home the Oaks. Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas did it twice in the 1980s. In 1982, Muttering won the Derby for Lukas and Blush With Pride scored in the Oaks. Then in 1988, Winning Colors won the Oaks when it was run in mid-March and four weeks later also won the Santa Anita Derby. She would go on to become just the third and to date last filly to win the Kentucky Derby.

Citizen Bull brings in strong credentials as last year’s 2-year-old male champion. The colt by Into Mischief will be making his first start since a front-running win in the Robert B. Lewis (G3) going one mile on Feb. 1 at Santa Anita. Like all in the Derby field, this will be his first time going 1 1/8 miles.

“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.”

Citizen Bull will break from post two under regular rider Martin Garcia, which is directly outside of Journalism in the one hole.

“Citizen Bull is quick. Probably the quickest of the two I have in there, so I don’t think anything is going to change,” Baffert said regarding Citizen Bull’s typical front-running tactics. “But these riders, they have to ride their own race.”

The other key contender in the race, Baeza (6-1), is drawn comfortably on the outside. Baeza, trained by John Shirreffs, will be joined in the field by stablemate Westwood (20-1) in post three.

“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.”

Barnes most recently was beaten by Journalism when finishing second in the GII San Felipe going 1 1/16 miles March 1 at Santa Anita. It was his first time racing around two turns and only loss in three starts. In the San Felipe, Barnes set the pace under Juan Hernandez and led inside the eighth pole before being overtaken by Journalism. Despite the loss by 1 ¾-lengths, the effort still earned a lofty 105 Beyer Speed Figure.

“At the 2 ½ (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.”