He leaves from the unfavorable inside post in the $5 million Kentucky Derby (G1) on Saturday. Still, it sure looks like Citizen Bull is prepared for a fast start and a strong Kentucky Derby betting odds breaker.
Under jockey Martin Garcia, trainer Bob Baffert’s Citizen Bull worked a bullet 5 furlongs in 58.40 seconds at Churchill Downs on Monday, the fastest of 15 workouts out the distance.
He galloped out 6 furlongs in 1:12.40 and 7 furlongs in 1:27.20.
Garcia, back in the Derby for the first time in 10 years, was set to work the Into Mischief colt 4 furlongs, but as Baffert watched, he called an audible for 5 furlongs.
As Garcia led Citizen Bull off the track, he said: “He worked really good out there. But he was just messin’ around. He did it easy.”
Citizen Bull has hit the track at @ChurchillDowns. He is set to work today under the Twin Spires. pic.twitter.com/IqsAIHfep8
— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) April 28, 2025
Citizen Bull, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) winner who most recently ran fourth in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 5, is an enticing 20-1 on the morning line.
“The track's pretty fast, but he did it real easy," said Baffert, seeking what would be a seventh Derby win.
Citizen Bull is a frontrunner and likely needs to break on or near the lead as the field of 20 3-year-olds charges to the first turn. A slow start, and Citizen Bull could be left near the rear of the pack.
The last Derby winner from the No. 1 post was Ferdinand in 1986.
Baffert’s other Derby contender, 12-1 Rodriguez, was walked around the barn a day after he worked 5 furlongs in 1:00.
NBC Sports covers Saturday’s 151st Kentucky Derby on NBC and Peacock beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET. This will be the 25th time NBC has broadcast the Run for the Roses.
NBC Sports’ Derby Day coverage features 10 races over 7 ½ hours—five hours on NBC and Peacock, followed by an opening 2 1/2 hours beginning at noon on USA Network and Peacock.
Telemundo Deportes has live coverage beginning Saturday at 6:30 p.m. ET on Universo.
Derby Nuggets: Coal Battle (30-1) worked 3 furlongs in 36.00 under Bethany Taylor. The work was the fourth at Churchill Downs for the Rebel Stakes (G2) winner who ran third in the Arkansas Derby (G1) ... Baeza, the lone also-eligible for the Derby, worked 5 furlongs in 1:02 under jockey Flavien Prat ... Derby favorite Journalism (3-1), walked the shedrow on Monday morning, a day after his final work (5 furlongs in 1:01.40) for the race ...
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
