Eddie Woods training program grad Citizen Bull stamped his ticket to the Breeders’ Cup with a front-running victory in Saturday's $300,000 American Pharoah S. (G1) at Santa Anita Park, defeating his Bob Baffert-trained stablemate Getaway Car by two lengths.

Citizen Bull, a debut winner Aug. 17 at Del Mar, followed that up with a third in the Del Mar Debutante (G1). Citizen Bull got the jump on the field and led through fractions of :23.85 and :47.78, leading by one length. Getaway Car made a run at the leader around the final turn, but Citizen Bull repelled the challenge, winning by two lengths in 1:44.30 on a fast main track.

"At Del Mar, [Citizen Bull] really needed that race. Mike [Smith] rode him and the colt was heavy, and he’s still heavy,” said Baffert, who won his record 13^th American Pharoah. “This track is very demanding. It is very deep and slow. You could tell he was getting tired at the end, so I think he will get so much out of this race. He is a good doer, he’s a good strong colt. He’s bred really well.”

Citizen Bull’s ownership group consists of SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital LLC, and Catherine Donovan. The bay colt has earned $261,000 with two wins in three starts.

Bred by Robert and Lawana Low, Citizen Bull sold for $675,000 at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling sale.