Big things are happening in horse racing! On Friday, December 13, 2024, some of the best graded-stakes winners in the country returned to training. This includes Citizen Bull, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner, and many other top-tier horses. Let’s break down the highlights of the day.
Citizen Bull: Back on Track After Big Wins
Citizen Bull, trained by Bob Baffert, was the star of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. This Friday, he worked four furlongs at Santa Anita in 49.4 seconds. This was his first workout since his big win on November 1.
So far, Citizen Bull has won three out of his four races. His only loss came in the Del Mar Futurity, where he finished behind Gaming, another talented colt. Gaming will race this weekend in the Los Alamitos Futurity as the morning-line favorite.
Other Graded Winners Start Training Again
Citizen Bull wasn’t the only star to train on Friday. Several other graded-stakes winners made their return to the track for their first workouts after recent races. Here’s a look at a few of them:
- Be Your Best: This Long Island Stakes winner clocked three furlongs in 35.5 seconds at Palm Meadows, the fastest at that distance for the day.
- Mrs. Astor: After winning the Red Carpet Stakes in November, she worked four furlongs in 49.8 seconds at Santa Anita.
- Imagination: This San Felipe Stakes winner logged the fastest five-furlong time of the day at Santa Anita with 58.8 seconds.
These workouts signal that these talented horses are preparing for more big races in the coming months.
Key Highlights from Across the Country
Friday was a busy day for horses across different tracks. Here are some other notable graded-stakes winners and their workouts:
- Skippylongstocking worked at Palm Meadows after competing in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.
- Buchu trained at Fair Grounds, bouncing back from a recent fifth-place finish.
- Midnight Mammoth and Alpha Bella also made impressive returns at Santa Anita, showing promising speeds.
Why Friday’s Workouts Matter
Friday’s workouts aren’t just routine—they’re a chance for trainers and fans to see how these horses are shaping up for their next challenges. Workouts are crucial in helping horses regain fitness and refine their skills for future races. For fans, it’s exciting to follow these stars as they prepare for another round of competition.
Friday’s workouts gave us a glimpse of some of the brightest stars in horse racing, including Citizen Bull and many other graded winners. These training sessions are an important step in keeping these horses at their peak performance for the thrilling races ahead. As these champions return to action, fans can expect more exciting races and memorable moments in the months to come.
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