ARCADIA, Calif. – A random phone call from jockey Martin Garcia to trainer Bob Baffert in the middle of the week led to Garcia riding the outstanding 2-year-old Citizen Bull to a win in the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita. The Kentucky-based Garcia, closely allied with Baffert a decade ago, resumed riding occasionally for the Hall of Fame trainer at Del Mar this summer. Garcia called Baffert to say hello on Wednesday at the same time Baffert was seeking a rider for Citizen Bull. “Martin called me to check in,” Baffert said in the winner’s circle. “That’s how he got the mount.” Garcia guided Citizen Bull to a front-running win in the $301,000 American Pharoah Stakes, the colt’s first stakes win in his third start. The win gives Citizen Bull a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Nov. 1 at Del Mar. :: Bet Santa Anita with confidence! Get DRF All Access Past Performances, Picks, Clocker Reports and more. Baffert won the American Pharoah for a record 13th time, and for the sixth time in the last seven years. Citizen Bull ($8.60) was the third choice in a field of seven in the American Pharoah. Garcia put Citizen Bull on the lead shortly after the start and held a one-length advantage through early fractions of 23.85 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 47.78 for a half-mile. Citizen Bull led by a length on the turn, an advantage that widened to two lengths in the stretch. “Bob said, ‘Let him run,’ ” Garcia said. “I was loaded. I thought, I don’t know if they can beat me.” Citizen Bull won by two lengths over the Baffert-trained Getaway Car, the 6-5 favorite who was second throughout. Citizen Bull ran 1 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.30 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 89. “I’m proud of both of them,” Baffert said of the first two finishers. “Getaway Car was in a good spot. “Citizen Bull, you could tell, was going to be tough to get by.” McKinzie Street, second to the Baffert-trained Gaming in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity at seven furlongs on Sept. 8, finished third, beaten 7 3/4 lengths. McKinzie Street was third and then fourth through the first mile of the American Pharoah before regaining third place in early stretch. :: BREEDERS’ CUP JUVENILE: See DRF’s special section with top contenders, odds, comments, news, and more Emerald Bay, also trained by Baffert, finished fourth, followed by Show of Force, Start Mo Up, and Mischief River. Citizen Bull was third by 5 3/4 lengths in the Del Mar Futurity as the 13-10 favorite when ridden by Mike Smith. Garcia rode Citizen Bull to a win in a maiden race Aug. 17 at Del Mar. Smith was expected to ride Citizen Bull on Saturday, Baffert said, but had obligations at Keeneland. Getaway Car won the Grade 3 Best Pal Stakes on Aug. 11 at Del Mar and was fourth in the Del Mar Futurity. Jockey Juan Hernandez was aboard for those races and the American Pharoah Stakes and noted improvement in Getaway Car on Saturday. “I got beat by a better horse,” Hernandez said. “He relaxed well. I like the way he ran today. The last time he was rank. Today, he took a breather and made a nice run. Hopefully, next time he can improve.” Citizen Bull, by Into Mischief, has earned $261,000. Purchased for $625,000 as a yearling at Keeneland in 2023, Citizen Bull races for the partnership of SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert Masterson, Tom Ryan, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan. Baffert had a massively successful day with his juveniles. Earlier in the afternoon, he swept the first three positions in the Grade 2 Oak Leaf Stakes for 2-year-old fillies with Non Compliant, Nooni, and Tenma. Baffert will have a strong team for the BC Juvenile, which is expected to include Gaming. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.