In just a few hours, the fate of two Bob Baffert horses will be determined. Indeed, I’m referring to Citizen Bull and Barnes, both of whom are set to compete in the Santa Anita Derby. The upcoming race promises to be a challenging one, with both horses about to face stiff competition at Santa Anita Park. But with Citizen Bull comfortably positioned in the Road to the Kentucky Derby standings, all attention is focused on Barnes. The three-year-old is set to return to the racecourse, this time with a mission, a clear sense of purpose, and a desire for redemption.

What is the reason for that? During the 2025 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita Park, the previously undefeated colt Barnes, under the guidance of trainer Bob Baffert, suffered his first loss. Despite maintaining the lead for a significant portion of the race, Barnes was surpassed in the final stretch by Journalism, who clinched a victory by 1¾ lengths. This marked Barnes’ first attempt at a two-turn race, and while he set a steady pace, he was unable to maintain his lead against Journalism’s formidable finish. And now Barnes is set to face Journalism again at the Santa Anita Derby.

Nonetheless, it’s been a month since, and Barnes has undergone numerous training sessions leading up to this esteemed Grade 1 event. In fact, an update was shared on Santa Anita Park’s official X profile, stating, “Barnes feeling frisky ahead of the $500,000 (GI) Santa Anita Derby. The $3.2 million dollar purchase carries lofty expectations and looks to turn the tables on prohibitive favorite Journalism after a gallant defeat in the (GII) DK Horse San Felipe Stakes.”

The upcoming race promises to be a significant one, and Barnes is looking to be in top shape! Clearly, the purse for the Santa Anita Derby is substantial and a big motivator. Nonetheless, it won’t be the only thing Bob Baffert is focusing on. The primary objective of entering the horse in this Grade 1 race is to secure those vital Kentucky Derby points. And his jockey is confident about his abilities.

Keeping up his confidence in Bob Baffert’s horse

Juan Hernandez is the man in the saddle, guiding Barnes to those first two victories. But he was also in the saddle during that decisive defeat by Journalism. With Barnes not competing since, has he completely lost faith in the horse? Absolutely not! It’s been said that you learn more from failure than success, and that’s exactly how Hernandez sees it.

Ahead of the Santa Anita Derby, Hernandez took the time to reaffirm his belief in his horse. “It was his first time going long. I think he’ll get a lot of benefit from that race. He didn’t have the experience of going two turns and he still ran great.”  Bob Baffert also saw things similarly. “I think he [Barnes] got a lot out of it. He’s really fit, and we already know he’s fast,” he said.

Juan Hernandez, one of the most dominant jockeys in Southern California in recent years, saw it as a development opportunity. A chance to gain some needed experience for the young horse. He rated Barnes’ chances well, and who knows, maybe the past experience of racing against Journalism will be what it takes to defeat him a month later. But Bob Baffert recognizes that goal for the challenge it is.

Baffert’s thoughts? “I think it’s the toughest (Kentucky Derby) prep of the year. Journalism is the horse to beat and we still don’t really know how good Baeza is. He’s a nice horse. I think we’ll know more when they hit the three-eighths pole,” stated the 72-year-old trainer.

Bob Baffert recognizes that the Santa Anita Derby presents a formidable challenge and has gone on record to keep expectations level. As the minutes pass, the excitement intensifies to witness how Barnes, Citizen Bull, Journalism, and others will fare against each other at Santa Anita Park.