ARCADIA, Calif. – If he makes the Kentucky Derby, the even-tempered colt Journalism will not be intimidated by a crowd of more than 150,000. That is the opinion of jockey Umberto Rispoli, who worked Journalism an easy half-mile in 48.20 seconds last Sunday. The work was Journalism’s first since his highly rated win in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes on March 1 at Santa Anita. “Look at him, he doesn’t even look like a horse that just worked,” Rispoli said watching Journalism casually strolling through trainer Michael McCarthy’s shed row minutes after the drill. “He’s like a serious person. He’s like Michael. He’s focused. His mentality is strong.” Journalism is currently favored for the Kentucky Derby, with one final prep remaining. He runs April 5 in the Santa Anita Derby, followed by the big one May 3. Rispoli believes Journalism has the mental fortitude to cope with a large, raucous crowd at Churchill Downs. “The first Saturday in May is going to be [150,000] people, so it’s very important to have a good mentality,” Rispoli said. “It’s important to not [fall apart] before a race, or get [too] excited after a work, or whatever. That’s the perspective he gives us. “Work by work, he is better and better. It’s business time. He goes out there, he does his job, and he comes home.” :: DRF Road to the Derby Package Available Now! Save 37% on key handicapping essentials through Kentucky Derby Day. Journalism, 3 for 3 in routes, including a 108 Beyer in his San Felipe victory, is scheduled to work twice more before the Santa Anita Derby. Since 1990, not counting the interrupted 2020 meet, San Felipe winners are 8 for 20 in the Santa Anita Derby. The 10 San Felipe winners who were favored in the Santa Anita Derby produced five wins and four seconds. Citizen Bull among Baffert workers How important was Monday’s workout by Citizen Bull? It was so important that trainer Bob Baffert had Citizen Bull’s jockey Martin Garcia fly in from his Oaklawn Park base to Santa Anita to work the 2024 champion 2-year-old. Citizen Bull worked outside a workmate, six furlongs in 1:12. “He’s really strong,” Garcia said after the work. “He has a lot of energy; he was on the muscle. I think his name says everything – The Bull.” Baffert worked several top 3-year-olds Monday, including Barnes, Cornucopian, and Gaming. As of midweek, Baffert was still plotting their spring campaigns. Citizen Bull is expected to start in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby. Plans for the remaining Baffert 3-year-olds are to be determined. Barnes and Cornucopian worked as a team, in virtual darkness, at 6:30 a.m. Cornucopian went slightly better. He did not let Barnes get past in the work, and galloped out in front. Both colts received a work time of 1:11.80. Barnes finished second in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes last out. Cornucopian scored a 101 Beyer debut sprint victory Feb. 23 at Oaklawn. “Still working on plans, what moves to make,” Baffert said this week regarding their next starts. Grade 1 winner Gaming worked five furlongs in 59 seconds, fastest at the distance, in company with Varney. Gaming galloped out in front. Gaming has not raced since Jan. 25, when he misfired in the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn. Gaming won the Del Mar Futurity last summer. :: KENTUCKY DERBY 2025: Top contenders, point standings, prep schedule, news, and more Plans for Gaming, who missed the Grade 3 Virginia Derby when he reportedly got sick, are unspecified. Same with Rodriguez, third in the San Felipe, and Madaket Road, runner-up in the Rebel. Rodriguez worked an easy half-mile in 48.60 on Monday. Madaket Road worked a half-mile last Sunday. His 46.40 time was the fastest of 83 works at the distance. Baeza given stiff drill Trainer John Shirreffs is tightening the screws on Baeza, the well-bred maiden winner targeting the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby. Baeza worked six furlongs last Sunday with jockey Hector Berrios aboard. The work was better than the 1:10.40 clocking. Baeza broke off by himself at the six-furlong pole with the unraced Shirreffs trainee Bolt It Down, jumping in after they passed the half-mile pole. “We wanted to make sure we had someone work with [Baeza] to the wire,” Shirreffs explained. The plan was perfectly executed. Baeza joined Bolt It Down from the outside after the half-mile pole, the pair went head-and-head to the wire. Baeza galloped out in front after he ducked out slightly at the seven-eighths pole. Baeza’s work was the only recorded six-furlong work that day. Bolt It Down was given a half-mile work time of 46.40, fastest of 33. Baeza, sired by McKinzie and a sibling to Kentucky Derby winner Mage and Belmont Stakes winner Dornoch, has raced three times and improved in each successive start. He earned a 93 Beyer Speed Figure defeating maidens Feb. 14. Derby points crucial Westwood, a maiden, will be nominated to the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby, trainer John Shirreffs said. Westwood finished second in a maiden route on March 14. One reason to nominate is that Westwood has improved since being gelded in November. The second reason is a small field is possible for the Santa Anita Derby, which affects the Kentucky Derby points. Derby qualifying points are awarded on a 100-50-25 basis for the top three finishers in the Santa Anita Derby, but only if six or more start. If the race has five starters, the available points drop to 75-37.5-18.75. With four starters, it is 50-25-12.5. “It could be a light field, and that screws everything up,” Shirreffs said. :: Playing Santa Anita? Get the most trusted data and information in horse racing! DRF Past Performances, Picks, and Clocker Reports available now. It’s a big deal for Baeza, the more highly regarded of Shirreffs’s prospective runners. Baeza and Westwood are owned by Lee and Susan Searing’s CRK Stable. Neither have earned any Derby qualifying points. The addition of Westwood to the Santa Anita Derby would increase the chance all Kentucky Derby qualifying points would be awarded, in which case Baeza would need to finish second or better to earn at least 50 points and be virtually assured of making the Derby field. As for Westwood, he is getting better. “He is, and anytime a horse repeats his performance, it’s a big step,” Shirreffs said. Westwood earned an 81 Beyer last out, following an 83 in his previous start, a third-place finish behind Baeza. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.