DEL MAR, Calif. — Citizen Bull triumphed in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile with a 1 1/2-length victory over Gaming, marking a stellar day for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert as he celebrated a 1-2 finish—his sixth career win in this prestigious race for juvenile horses.
Under the guidance of jockey Martin Garcia, Citizen Bull completed the 1 1/16-mile race in a time of 1:43.07, delivering a payout of $33.80 for fans placing bets at 15-1 odds. The victory also secured 30 qualifying points for the upcoming Kentucky Derby, where Baffert is expected to return for the first time since 2021 after his ban from Churchill Downs concluded in July.
Gaming was the 6-1 third choice, while Baffert’s other entry, Getaway Car—named after a Taylor Swift song—finished in fourth place with 25-1 odds.
“It’s thrilling when your horses perform well,” Baffert remarked, expressing his hopes for a 1-2-3 finish. This win contributed to Baffert’s record total of 19 career victories in the Breeders’ Cup events, setting him apart from D. Wayne Lukas in terms of Juvenile wins. Jockey Martin Garcia also marked a milestone with his fifth career victory in the Cup.
“He really delivers when it counts; he’s a top-notch rider,” Baffert said about Garcia, who had expressed confidence prior to the race, saying, “I’m going to win it.”
In a disappointing turn of events, the morning line favorite, East Avenue, stumbled out of the gate and almost went down, ultimately finishing ninth out of ten competitors. Chancer McPatrick, the second choice at 5-2, faced his first career defeat, finishing in sixth place.
Saturday will host nine additional Cup races, culminating in the highlight event—the $7 million Classic.
In other notable races:
— Magnum Force made a late surge to secure the $1 million Juvenile Turf Sprint, edging ahead of Governor Sam by a quarter-length. The 12-1 longshot completed five furlongs in 56.36 seconds, offering a $27 payout. This win marked the first Cup victories for both Irish trainer Ger Lyons and jockey Colin Keane. Governor Sam, co-owned by Houston Astros free agent Alex Bregman, placed third.
— Immersive dominated the $2 million Juvenile Fillies, winning by 4 1/2 lengths and ensuring trainer Brad Cox extended his streak to at least one Cup win annually for the last seven years. With jockey Manny Cox aboard, Immersive ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.36, remaining undefeated while paying out $6 as the 2-1 favorite.
— Lake Victoria navigated a tough race to claim victory in the $1 million Juvenile Fillies Turf, winning by 1 1/4 lengths. The filly covered one mile in 1:34.28 and returned $3.40 for those who backed her as the 3-5 favorite. This victory granted Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien his 19th career Cup win, while jockey Ryan Moore celebrated his 15th.