Tipsheet: 2025 Santa Anita Derby

A compact, but sensational, field of five three-year-olds will go 1 1/8 miles on the dirt in Saturday’s $500,000 Santa Anita Derby (G1). The 2025 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series contest will reward the quintet with qualifying points towards the Run for the Roses on a 75-37.5-18.75-11.25-7.5 structure, with only a handful of sophomores signed on.  

Santa Anita Derby Picks

• #2 Citizen Bull
• #1 Journalism
• #4 Barnes

Santa Anita Derby Wagers

• $30 win #2 Citizen Bull
• $10 exacta 2 with 1,4

Santa Anita Derby Contenders

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#1 JOURNALISM: Classy son of Curlin bagged the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) to close his two-year-old season prior to driving home a stylish winner of the San Felipe S. (G2) in his 2025 debut last time out. The Mike McCarthy trainee possesses a robust turn of foot and could easily move forward while making his second run of the year, as well. Kentucky-bred bay will track the tempo from third early on prior to putting in his late run under regular pilot Umberto Rispoli. 

#2 CITIZEN BULL: Champion son of Into Mischief kicked off his three-year-old season with a dominant score in the Robert B. Lewis S. (G3) for Baffert. Ultra-talented bay is fast from the gate, but he doesn’t need the lead to run big, and the colt enters the race with a bullet five-furlong drill on the course, too. The imposing Kentucky-bred will force the action from the break with regular rider Martin Garcia up. 

#3 WESTWOOD: $700,000 son of Authentic was a clear second in a recent maiden run and will make his stakes bow in this endeavor. The well-bred colt obviously has talent, but he lands in a very ambitious spot against this crew. Tiago Pereira will bring the gelding from off the pace for conditioner John Shirreffs. 

#4 BARNES: Second from the Baffert shedrow, he suffered his first setback from three lifetime races last out when runner-up in the San Felipe (G2), but the colt ran a big one in defeat, nonetheless. The $3.2 million yearling purchase has improved his Brisnet Speed figure with each performance to date and wouldn’t be a surprise on Saturday with another step in the right direction. Juan Hernandez retains the ride. 

#5 BAEZA: Half-brother to classic winners Mage and Dornoch, the colt earned a hefty 98 Brisnet Speed number in his maiden romp last time out for John Shirreffs. The $1.2 million son of McKinzie has surely improved with blinkers being added two back, and his substantial late kick could be felt if the pace is too swift in the early stages of the contest. Hector Berrios will take the reins once again.