G2 San Felipe Offers 50-25-15-10-5 Kentucky Derby Qualifying Points

Barnes, who has dazzled in two starts for trainer Bob Baffert, and Grade II winner Journalism headline the Grade II, $300,000 DK Horse San Felipe Stakes for 3-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles on Saturday, March 1.

Held annualy in March, the San Felipe Stakes primarily serves as the final local prep for the Santa Anita Derby (G1), but the 1 1/16-mile is also a Road to the Kentucky Derby prep race offering 50 qualification points to the winner - enough to virtually guarantee a spot in the Churchill Downs starting gate.

For Barnes, the San Felipe will be his first time racing around two turns. He broke his maiden on debut going 5 ½ furlongs at Churchill Downs in November, then returned Jan. 4 at Santa Anita and romped by 5 ½ lengths the GII San Vicente going seven furlongs.

Since the San Vicente, Barnes has worked six times including a pair of stamina-building six furlong works at Santa Anita. He drilled the distance in 1:12.20 on Sunday at Santa Anita.

Out of All American Dream, by 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, Barnes was purchased as a yearling for $3.2 million by owner Zedan Racing. He will be ridden by Juan Hernandez, who was also aboard in the San Vicente.

Journalism will be making his first start as a 3-year-old. Trained by Michael McCarthy, Journalism closed out his juvenile campaign with a win in the GII Los Alamitos Futurity going 1 1/16 miles in December. He will be ridden by Umberto Rispoli, who was also aboard in the Futurity.

By Curlin, Journalism is owned by Bridlewood Farm, breeder Don Alberto Stables, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners et. al. He was purchased by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners for $825,000 as a yearling.

Also looming for Baffert is Rodriguez, most recently second to champion Citizen Bull in the GIII Robert B. Lewis going a mile Feb. 1 at Santa Anita. The Authentic colt, a $485,000 auction buy, previously romped to a seven-length maiden win when stretched out to a mile in his second start Jan. 4 at Santa Anita. Owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables et. al, Rodriguez will have top rider Flavien Prat aboard for the first time.

Barnes and Rodriguez Prep for GII San Felipe

Feb 17 - Barnes and Rodriguez, candidates for the GII San Felipe on March 1 at Santa Anita Park, and fellow 3-year-old Citizen Bull all worked for trainer Bob Baffert Monday at Santa Anita. Baffert also worked older horse Mirahmadi, who is pointed to the GI Santa Anita Handicap March 1.

Unbeaten Barnes worked in company with stablemate Flying Drummer, an allowance-winning 4-year-old. Barnes was clocked going six furlongs in 1:12.00 while Flying Drummer was credited with a five-furlong drill in 1:01.60.

Rodriguez completed his solo move in 1:11.80, which shared for the fastest six-furlong work of the day. Citizen Bull, last year's champion 2-year-old, worked five furlongs with company in 1:00.60. Citizen Bull and Rodriguez most recently ran one-two in the GIII Robert B. Lewis going a mile on Feb. 1 at Santa Anita.

Barnes closed this weekend's Kentucky Derby Future Wager as the 8-1 individual favorite among 39 3-year-olds listed in the pool. The "all others" entry was the overall favorite at 9-2. By Into Mischief, Barnes improved to 2-for-2 when winning the GII San Vicente going seven furlongs on Jan. 4 at Santa Anita. The 1 1/16-mile San Felipe would be his first time racing around two turns.

Citizen Bull, also by Into Mischief, closed the Kentucky Derby future pool as the 9-1 second choice among individual 3-year-olds. Rodriguez, an Authentic colt, closed at 29-1.

Baeza Possible for San Felipe at Santa Anita Park

Feb 14 - It's likely on to the Kentucky Derby trail for Baeza after the high-priced auction buy rolled to a 4 ¾-length victory in a $61,000 maiden race for 3-year-olds going a mile Friday at Santa Anita.

Sent off the 2-1 second choice under Hector Berrios, Baeza eagerly tracked longshot pacesetter Flyin Private (68-1) in second, took the lead midway around the second turn and drew off in the stretch to graduate in his third start. Mellencamp (3-1), ridden by Flavien Prat for trainer Bob Baffert, was second with another 1 ¼ lengths back to Westwood (39-1) in third.

Both Baeza and Westwood are trained by John Shirreffs and owned by C R K Stable. Baeza is a McKinzie colt who commanded $1.2 million at auction as a yearling. He won in a final time of 1:37.84 following fractions of 22.94, 46.93, 1:12.48 and 1:25.27.

"It seemed like he was a little more aggressive today," Shirreffs said of the winner. "We're excited about the effort."

Berrios was riding Baeza for the second time. Last time out on Jan. 4 at Santa Anita, Baeza and Berrios finished second behind the highly regarded Rodriguez.

"His stride, it's nice," Berrios said. "He's a still a little green, just a baby, but he's getting better with racing."

Shirreffs said a stakes opportunity will likely be next for Baeza. The stakes series for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita includes the GII San Felipe on March 1 and the GI Santa Anita Derby on April 5. Both races offer qualifying points for the 151st Kentucky Derby May 3 at Churchill Downs.

"We hope so," Shirreffs said of joining the Derby trail. "It's that time of year where you try those things. We'll see how he comes out. I'll talk with (owner Lee Searing) and we'll make a decision."

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Citizen Bull Possible For San Felipe

Feb 2 - Trainer Bob Baffert reported all was well with Citizen Bull the morning after his 3¾-length win in Saturday's Robert B. Lewis (G3) at Santa Anita.

Baffert added it remains to be determined if last year's 2-year-old champion male makes one or two more starts before this year's 151st Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 3 at Churchill Downs.

Citizen Bull earned a 98 Beyer Speed Figure for his front-running win in the one-mile Lewis under Martin Garcia, which was his first start since winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar on Nov. 1. With the win, Citizen Bull earned 20 additional qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby to give him 60 in all. That should be more than enough points to make the 20-horse field for the Derby.

Prior to the Lewis, Baffert noted Citizen Bull is a "big, heavy colt" that should improve with racing. On Sunday, he said "We'll just wait and see" whether the son of Into Mischief makes another start, potentially the San Felipe (G2) at Santa Anita on March 1, prior to the final round of Kentucky Derby preps in early April, which includes the Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 5.

"I need to talk it over with his racing manager (SF Racing's Tom Ryan) and we'll make a plan," Baffert said.

Citizen Bull is owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables and partners. He improved to 4-0-1 from five career starts and $1,421,000 in earnings.

In addition to Citizen Bull, Baffert has another top Kentucky Derby prospect in Barnes, who moved to 2-for-2 when winning theSan Vicente (G2) going seven furlongs Jan. 4 at Santa Anita.

Barnes is to make his next start in either the Rebel (G2) Feb. 22 at Oaklawn Park or the San Felipe a week later, Baffert said. Both races are contested at 1 1/16 miles. It would be the first time going two turns for Barnes, also a son of Into Mischief, owned by Zedan Racing.