Each year, the Kentucky Derby stands out as a highly awaited event on the radar of horse racing enthusiasts. Certainly, numerous races unfold throughout the season, yet the inaugural leg of the American Triple Crown establishes a benchmark for what lies ahead in the year. This campaign, Churchill Downs will see the return of Bob Baffert after his suspension.

“To be back here, it’s just enjoyable; I have great memories here at Churchill Downs, it’s a historic racetrack and it just, it’s a great day,” remarked the 72-year-old horse trainer after his return. He has already secured six victories at the Kentucky Derby, and he would certainly welcome the opportunity to add another to his impressive career. Nonetheless, will this prove to be simple for Baffert? Not quite, as his leading contender in the Road to Kentucky Derby is already facing some competition, according to the latest leaderboard.

Equalized with Bob Baffert’s top horse

Who stands out as Bob Baffert’s leading contender on the Road to the Kentucky Derby? Citizen Bull currently holds 60 points. While the three-year-old colt may not lead the standings, he currently holds the second position, trailing behind Lonnie Briley’s Coal Battle, which has amassed 70 points. Nonetheless, Citizen Bull’s position in second place in the standings could be at risk in the coming months as we approach the Kentucky Derby.

Who is pursuing Baffert’s horse on the leaderboard? It’s Journalism on the third and Sovereignty on the fourth. And would you believe it? Each of them has 60 points, similar to Citizen Bull. The inquiry at hand is which races played a role in accumulating their points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. The colt has taken part in two races that added to his points tally. The initial 10 points were awarded from the Los Alamitos Futurity, while the most recent 50 points were garnered from the DK Horse San Felipe Stakes.

The recent Grade 2 race was a notable event, as he triumphed over the favored Baffert-trained Barnes. The horse trained by Michael McCarthy crossed the finish line with a 1 3/4-length lead, securing his place in the spotlight. McCarthy expressed admiration for his horse’s performance, remarking, “It is always great to have a horse that can take you places, and he looks like he is taking himself and everybody else with him.”

So, who else is featured on this list? It is Sovereignty, trained by William Mott. The three-year-old colt shares a narrative reminiscent of Journalism. He certainly secured his portion of 10 points in the Street Sense Stakes. Nonetheless, Sovereignty’s significant highlights emerged during the Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes, a race classified as Grade 2.

So far, March has emerged as an exciting period for horse racing, with the excitement for the Kentucky Derby intensifying, thanks to the races that precede this significant event. Nonetheless, a trainer of Baffert’s caliber has more than just Citizen Bull in contention for the initial stage of the American Triple Crown.

More horses from the six-time Kentucky Derby winner

In addition to Citizen Bull, Bob Baffert has five other contenders on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. The list begins with the following entries: Getaway Car, Madaket Road, Barnes, Rodriguez, and Gaming. A few weeks back, Getaway Car was the contender trailing behind Citizen Bull, but in the world of horse racing, the emergence of new challengers can happen in the blink of an eye.

The colt trained by Baffert currently holds 36 points, placing him just five points ahead of Madaket Road, who has accumulated 31 points. Barnes is the next contender on the list with 25 points, having recently competed in the DK Horse San Felipe Stakes, where he secured a second-place finish, just behind Journalism. Rodriguez and Gaming round out the list with 25 and 18 points, respectively. Baffert possesses the tenacity to reclaim his illustrious past once more.

Recall the moment he remarked, “They were fighting for their brand, and I was fighting for my horse, but it’s over. Everything is cool between Churchill and me, and that’s the way it should be. It was a business decision on their part. Turn the page. I acknowledged it, and we’ve moved on.” This statement addressed the controversy that resulted in his suspension. Nonetheless, Baffert anticipates a bright future ahead, prepared to showcase his most competitive horses at the Kentucky Derby.