Citizen Bull and Gaming Shine in Baffert’s Latest Santa Anita Workouts

Bob Baffert’s trainees Citizen Bull (Into Mischief) along with Gaming (Game Winner), who comprised the exacta in the GI FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar on Nov. 1, were among several distinguished horses to clock timed workouts on Saturday morning at Santa Anita.

A contender for the Eclipse Award as the leading 2-year-old colt, Citizen Bull worked in tandem with his stablemate Richi (Chi) (Practical Joke) going five furlongs in 59.40 seconds, marking the second-fastest of 59 sessions at that distance. Gaming recorded a time of 1:02.60 for five furlongs.

This marked the third workout for Citizen Bull since defeating his stablemate by 1 1/2 lengths in the Juvenile. Following his seaside performance, Gaming finished third in the GII Los Alamitos Futurity on Dec. 14, returning to the tab with a five-furlong move in 1:02.60.

Also working under the Hall of Fame trainer was Pleasant, who placed third in the GI PNC Bank Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint during her second start following a 13-month hiatus. The 4-year-old Munnings filly, nominated to compete in Saturday’s GIII Las Flores at six furlongs at Santa Anita, worked five furlongs from the gate in 1:00.00.

Eagles Flight (Curlin), a half-brother to Horse of the Year Flightline, delivered a top-notch workout for trainer John Sadler, clocking five furlongs in 59.0 seconds, the fastest among 59 moves at that distance. In his debut on May 27 at Santa Anita, Eagles Flight triumphed with an impressive 2 3/4-length victory over six furlongs earning the title of ‘TDN Rising Star’.

GIII Bob Hope winner Bullard, boasting a flawless record of 2-for-2 for trainer Michael McCarthy, completed five furlongs in 1:00.80. The Gun Runner colt, recognized as a ‘TDN Rising Star’, is entered for the upcoming GII San Vicente Stakes next Saturday, going seven furlongs at Santa Anita.

Also working for McCarthy was the GI Hollywood Derby victor Formidable Man (City of Light). The 3-year-old colt clocked four furlongs on the main track in 47.60 seconds, which was the second-fastest of 53 moves at that distance.

Trainer Tim Yakteen worked both McKinzie Street and Practical Dream, a filly. McKinzie Street, who has placed in three graded stakes including the GI Del Mar Futurity and GI American Pharoah Stakes, worked four furlongs in 51.40 seconds. The McKinzie colt was most recently third in the Bob Hope.

Practical Dream, who won the Desi Arnaz Stakes at Del Mar last month, completed four furlongs in 47.80 seconds. It was the third fastest of 54 efforts at the distance. Practical Dream, by Practical Joke, finished sixth in the GII Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos during her two-turn debut on Dec. 7.

All Santa Anita workouts can be found on XBTV by clicking here.