Lots to Learn From a Champion Juvenile’s 3-Year-Old Debut: All Eyes on Citizen Bull

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Citizen Bull, FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile presented by TAA, Robert B. Lewis Stakes, Santa Anita Park, Kentucky Derby, Triple. Crown, Eclipse Sportswire
Champion Citizen Bull, above winning the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile presented by TAA, makes his return Feb. 1 in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita Park. BloodHorse Editorial Director Frank Angst explains why this race might be predictive. (Eclipse Sportswire)

After completing his juvenile season with victories in the 2024 American Pharoah Stakes Presented by DK Horse and FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile presented by TAA to nail down champion 2-year-old male honors, Citizen Bull is expected to make his 3-year-old debut on a busy day for the Road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve.

Citizen Bull is listed as the 6-5 favorite in the $200,000 Robert. B. Lewis Stakes Feb. 1 at Santa Anita Park, one of three races offering Derby qualifying points Saturday. Based on recent history, the champion’s performance Saturday figures to immediately offer clues to his ability to continue progressing toward this year’s classics.

Of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winners since 2000, the lone pair to capture the Kentucky Derby  both opened their 3-year-old seasons with victories. Street Sense followed his 2006 Juvenile win with a score in the 2007 Tampa Bay Derby while Nyquist debuted at 3 with a victory in the 2016 San Vicente Stakes following his 2015 Juvenile triumph.

A look at the 3-year-old debuts and Kentucky Derby performances of Juvenile winners serves as a reminder of how tough it is for a top 2-year-old to continue forward with classic form. Thirteen of the Juvenile winners since 2000 did not start in the Derby and five from that group either did not race again or made their 3-year-old debuts after the classics.

Only six Juvenile winners since 2000 won 3-year-old debuts conducted before the Kentucky Derby. It’s a tough game.

As for Saturday, the toughest competition for Bob Baffert-trained Citizen Bull is expected to come from stablemates Madaket Road and Rodriguez . Both enter off impressive second-out maiden wins at Santa Anita, with Madaket Road earning that victory Dec. 26 and Rodriguez scoring Jan. 4.

Besides the Lewis, this week’s Road schedule sees Aqueduct playing host to the $250,000 Withers Stakes and Gulfstream Park offering the $265,000 Holy Bull Stakes. All three races offer 20 qualifying points to the winner and 42 points overall for the top five finishers.

Juvenile Winner

3yo debut: date, race, track

3yo debut finish

Kentucky Derby finish

2024 Citizen Bull

Feb. 1, Robert B. Lewis S., Santa Anita Park

TBD

TBD

2023 Fierceness

Feb. 3, Holy Bull S., Gulfstream Park

3rd

15th

2022 Forte

March 4, Fountain of Youth S., Gulfstream Park

won

Did Not Start

2021 Corniche

July 31, Amsterdam S., Saratoga Race Course

9th

Did Not Start

2020 Essential Quality

Feb. 27, Southwest S., Oaklawn Park

won

3rd

2019 Storm the Court

Feb. 9, San Vicente S., Santa Anita Park

4th

Did Not Start

2018 Game Winner

March 16, Rebel S., Oaklawn Park

2nd

5th

2017 Good Magic

March 3, Fountain of Youth, Gulfstream Park

3rd

2nd

2016 Classic Empire

Feb. 4, Holy Bull S., Gulfstream Park

3rd

4th

2015 Nyquist

Feb. 15, San Vicente S., Santa Anita Park

won

won

2014 Texas Red

Feb. 1, San Vicente S., Santa Anita Park

2nd

DNS

2013 New Year’s Day

Did Not Start

Did Not Start

2012 Shanghai Bobby

Jan. 26, Holy Bull S., Gulfstream Park

2nd

Did Not Start

2011 Hansen

Jan. 29, Holy Bull S., Gulfstream Park

2nd

9th

2010 Uncle Mo

March 12, Timely Writer S., Gulfstream Park

won

Did Not Start

2009 Vale of York

March 4, Bahri Al Bastakiya, Meydan Racecourse

5th

Did Not Start

2008 Midshipman

Sept. 18, allowance race, Belmont Park

won

Did Not Start

2007 War Pass

Feb. 24, allowance race, Gulfstream Park

won

Did Not Start

2006 Street Sense

March 17, Tampa Bay Derby, Tampa Bay Downs

won

won

2005 Stevie Wonderboy

Jan. 14, San Rafael S., Santa Anita Park

2nd

Did Not Start

2004 Wilko

March 19, San Felipe S., Santa Anita Park

4th

6th

2003 Action This Day

Feb. 8, Sham S., Santa Anita Park

4th

6th

2002 Vindication

Did Not Start

Did Not Start

2001 Johannesburg

April 7, Gladness S., Curragh

2nd

8th

2000 Macho Uno

July 25, allowance, Saratoga Race Course

2nd

Did Not Start


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