Recently crowned Eclipse champion Citizen Bull (Into Mischief), who cemented his 2-year-old championship with a win in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last November, opened his sophomore campaign in similar fashion with a commanding victory in the GIII Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita Saturday. The 4-5 favorite, facing just four rivals, led home a one-two-three finish for trainer Bob Baffert and gave the Hall of Fame trainer his seventh straight win in the Lewis and his 13th overall victory in the race named for the late owner.
“The champ is back,” Baffert said from the winner’s circle Saturday. “The ‘Bull’ looked good coming down [the stretch]. It’s funny, you see him and you don’t realize that he has those gears. He won’t show you that in the morning, but he does have gears.”
Citizen Bull bobbled slightly at the break, but recovered quickly and took the lead into the first turn. Racing keenly down the backstretch, the champion was in control through a quarter in :23.27 and a half in :47.06. Rodriguez (Authentic), the 7-5 second choice coming off a ‘TDN Rising Star’-worthy maiden victory Jan. 4, was chasing his pacesetting stablemate while between foes, but drifted further off the pace to find clear running. He rushed up four wide on the turn and attempted to reel in Citizen Bull, briefly looking like a threat at the top of the lane, only to have Citizen Bull find another gear and kick away to win with authority.