DEL MAR, Calif. (AP) — Citizen Bull won the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile by 1 1/2 lengths and Gaming was second at Del Mar on Friday, giving Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert a 1-2 finish and his record sixth career victory in the race for 2-year-olds. Ridden by Martin Garcia, Citizen Bull ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.
07. He paid $33.80 at 15-1 odds.
Citizen Bull earned 30 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby, where Baffert will return next year for the first time since 2021. His three-year ban by Churchill Downs ended in July. Gaming was the 6-1 third choice.
Baffert's other entry, Getaway Car named for the Taylor Swift song, finished fourth at 25-1 odds. “It's exciting when your horses show up,” Baffert said. “I was hoping they'd run 1-2-3.
” It was Baffert's 19th career Cup win and he broke a tie with D. Wayne Lukas for most Juvenile victories. Jockey Martin Garcia earned his fifth career Cup win.
“He always comes through. He's a big-time rider,” Baffert said of Garcia. “He told me, ‘I’m going to win it.
'” East Avenue, the 8-5 favorite, stumbled out of the starting gate and nearly went down to his knees. He finished ninth in the 10-horse field. Chancer McPatrick, the 5-2 second choice, lost for the first time in four career starts and was sixth.
Racing resumes Saturday with nine Cup races, highlighted by the $7 million Classic. In other races: — Immersive won the $2 million Juvenile Fillies by 4 1/2 lengths, giving trainer Brad Cox at least one C.