Citizen Bull, the Bob Baffert-trained 2024 champion juvenile male and favorite in the Daily Racing Form Derby Watch Top 20, remains on target for the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 5. Citizen Bull looked strong in a solo work Feb. 23 at Santa Anita, going six furlongs in 1:13. Baeza, a half-brother to Mage and Dornoch, was scheduled to work this week, his first drill since an impressive maiden win Feb. 14. Baeza, trained by John Shirreffs, also is aiming to the Santa Anita Derby. The complexion of the Santa Anita Derby will clarify after the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita. The six-runner San Felipe includes three Baffert trainees – Barnes, Rodriguez, and maiden Mellencamp. Grade 2 winner Journalism, trained by Michael McCarthy, also is entered. Bullard scratched with a fever Bullard’s longshot bid to join the Derby trail took a hit last week at Oaklawn Park. Bullard, a lightly raced Grade 3 sprint winner based in California, shipped to Arkansas for the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes, but was scratched. “He spiked a temperature the second day there,” trainer Michael McCarthy said. “Makes things a bit tighter. No time frame for him.” :: KENTUCKY DERBY 2025: Point standings, prep schedule, news, and more Bullard recovered from his temperature, and returned late Tuesday to Santa Anita. McCarthy said the first objective is “get him healthy.” The setback will make it difficult for Bullard to make the Derby. He has raced only three times, and never around two turns. Bullard won the Grade 3 Bob Hope Stakes at seven furlongs in November at Del Mar, and finished third to Barnes in the Grade 2 San Vicente at the same distance Jan. 4 at Santa Anita. Charlie’s to Blame to Jeff Ruby California Burrito will have a tougher time winning the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks on March 22 at Turfway Park than his slow-pace victory in the John Battaglia Stakes on Feb. 22 at Turfway. The Jeff Ruby is likely to unfold at a much faster pace. Turf front-runner Charlie’s to Blame will switch to synthetic in the Jeff Ruby, which seemingly guarantees a quicker pace than the Battaglia. Winner of the Kitten’s Joy Stakes on Feb. 1 at Gulfstream Park, Charlie’s to Blame is aiming to the Jeff Ruby, according to trainer Peter Eurton. “He’s trained so well [at Santa Anita] on synthetic, so that’s what we’re going to do,” Eurton said. Although Charlie’s to Blame won both recent starts setting the pace, Eurton is optimistic the colt is more than a one-dimensional front-runner. :: Santa Anita Clocker Reports are available every race day. Access now. “It will be interesting to see if he can be tactical instead of going to the lead. He’s just so quick from the box,” Eurton said. Charlie’s to Blame, who is 2 for 4, figures as one of the top contenders in the Jeff Ruby, which offers 100 Kentucky Derby points to the winner and 50 to the runner-up. However, the Derby is not a priority for Charlie’s to Blame, who was not an early nominee to the Triple Crown. Eurton said the Grade 1 American Turf Stakes on May 3 at Churchill Downs is a more realistic goal. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.