Citizen Bull

Citizen Bull began his career with a win at first asking in a 2-year-old maiden race going 5 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar on Aug. 17, 2024. He then made his second start in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity going seven furlongs on Sept. 8 and finished third when beaten 5 3/4 lengths as the 1.30.1 favorite in a field of seven.

Citizen Bull rebounded strongly to win his next race in the Grade 1 $300,000 American Pharoah Stakes presented by DK Horse going 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita on Oct. 5.  Sent off this time as the underdog 3.30-1 third choice in a seven-horse field, Citizen Bull was a completely different horse in the American Pharoah Stakes. He went right to the lead from the start and was never able to be challenged enroute to a wire-to-wire win by two lengths. The American Pharoah Stakes was a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series "Win and You're In" qualifying race, and with his victory, Citizen Bull earned a fees-paid spot in the field for the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance.

Citizen Bull seized command at the start of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and set a measured pace under Martin Garcia with stablemates Gaming and Getaway Car tracking behind in second and third. The Into Mischief colt had plenty of stamina left entering the stretch and pulled away from Gaming to win by open lengths and give Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert his record-setting sixth win in the race. That signature win made Citizen Bull a heavy favorite to receive the Eclipse Award for champion 2-year-old male of 2024, and he was so honored at the awards ceremony on Jan. 23, 2025.

The reigning 2-year-old champion returned to make his 3-year-old debut on Feb. 1, 2025, in the Grade 3 $200,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes going one mile at Santa Anita. Sent off as the 0.90-1 odds-on favorite in a field of five in the Robert Lewis, Citizen Bull did not break well but then still was able to quickly go to the front and establish the lead. He fended off a tepid mid-race challenge and drew clear of the field to win by 3 3/4 lengths at the finish when never fully extended in a time of 1:36.71. The Robert Lewis was a points race on the Road to the 2025 Kentucky Derby and the 20 qualifying points awarded to Citizen Bull for his victory established him as the Derby points leader with 60 early in the 3-year-old season. 

Citizen Bull subsequently finished fourth in a five-horse field in the Grade 1 $500,000 Santa Anita Derby going 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita on April 5.

Citizen Bull was bred in Kentucky by Into Mischief out of No Joke, by Distorted Humor.