If you are an avid horse racing fan, you might have heard about Bob Baffert. Indeed, the American horse racing trainer is one of the most popular yet controversial people in the industry. After all, his own client, Kaleem Shah said, “He will rub people the wrong way by speaking his mind, sometimes he needs to hit the mute button.” However, despite his reputation, he still has a large following behind him that eagerly awaits to watch his horses run in major races. Every year, he trains many young colts, and some even prove to be the best in the industry, such as American Pharaoh and Justify, owing to the performances he’s coaxed out of them.

This year too is no different for Baffert, as he has a lot of responsibilities on his hands. However, with the Kentucky Derby coming in a few months, many heads are already fixed, watching a certain colt trained by the American, who has already made his mark in the industry with his recent performances in various races.

Yes, I’m talking about Citizen Bull. He will become a three-year-old right before the Kentucky Derby this season, and Bob Baffert is already off to a fantastic start with the steed. Indeed, a few days ago, on February 1, he participated in the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita. The colt has raced before on the track, that too in a Grade 1 race, so this was an easy one for him.

Indeed, Citizen Bull stumbled leaving stalls but chased leaders on the inner and led the race smoothly after 1 furlong. Baffert’s colt never looked back and just kept running and maintained a great lead when he crossed the finish line at Santa Anita, securing a comfortable win as he was nearly 4 lengths ahead of the second-place finisher.

However, this was the first Grade 3 race of his career, as the colt had previously only starred in multiple Grade 1 races. Now, it’s just fascinating to see what kind of horse Baffert has raised. A horse who might just be the favorite in the upcoming Kentucky Derby. Citizen Bull’s maiden race was on August 17, 2024, and he swiftly secured a first-place finish. But his next race, which was the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity at Del Mar, saw him finish third.

Considering that it was Citizen Bull’s first major race, it was a good position to be in. However, Baffert’s colt showcased his true potential at the Grade 1 American Pharoah in Santa Anita, where he prevailed over the competition and secured the first-place finish. The colt, though, didn’t stop there with his Grade 1 win; when he arrived in the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile, he also secured the win and immediately caught the attention of horse racing enthusiasts.

Currently, Citizen Bull is in first place when it comes to the horses in the Road to the Kentucky Derby list. Indeed, he has 60 points, putting him way ahead of the second-place horse Speed King, who just has 25 points. However, only time will tell how these horses will compete in the rankings and who will actually make it to the Churchill Downs race in a few months. And for Baffert, this won’t be his first time either, as he has trained several racehorses to victory in the past years.

Bob Baffert’s record in the Kentucky Derby

The Kentucky Derby is the first race of the American Triple Crown series of horse racing. The Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes will follow it. For Bob Baffert, these races are nothing new, as he has been competing in the Derby since the 1990s. He is one of the oldest trainers in the sport—a true veteran—and his horses have made history in many racecourses.

Baffert’s first Kentucky Derby win came in 1997 when the now Hall of Famer, Silver Charm, grabbed the victory while being ridden by Gary Stevens. However, this wasn’t the only Derby win for the American horse trainer, as he won again in 1998, 2002, 2015, 2018, 2020, and 2021. However, the 2021 win, secured by Medina Spirit, was scratched from his career, as the horse failed a drug test following the race. This was in addition to the many fines he has incurred over the years from other failed drug tests.

The Medina Spirit situation caused a lot of controversies in the horse racing community surrounding his name, as many wondered about how clean his horses truly were before races. It also raised questions about the welfare of the horses under Baffert’s care.

Ultimately, Baffert received a three-year ban from the Kentucky Derby. “Mr. Baffert’s record of testing failures threatens public confidence in thoroughbred racing and the reputation of the Kentucky Derby. Given these repeated failures over the last year, including the increasingly extraordinary explanations, we firmly believe that asserting our rights to impose these measures is our duty and responsibility,” said the CEO of Churchill Downs Inc. in a statement.

But despite the protests and despite the controversy, Bob Baffert continued to receive financial backing because of his winning record. And now that 3 years have passed, he plans to make a comeback in the 2025 edition of the Derby. This race will be interesting to watch in light of all that has transpired. Also because Baffert’s horses are notoriously fast on the courses. And who knows, Citizen Bull might just be the next big thing in the American horse racing industry.