January 30, 2025
TORONTO — By Matthew Lomon
Baffert or the Field?
When the 2025 Major League Baseball season commences in March, we’ll be asking ourselves, “Dodgers or the field?”
In Saturday’s $200,000 Santa Monica (G2) at Santa Anita, that very same question will be tweaked to, “Baffert or the field?”
The hall of fame trainer conditions three of the four horses entered in the seven-furlong dirt contest. The Baffert-led trio consists of multiple graded stakes winner Hope Road (2-1), La Flores (G3) champion Richi (CHI) (9-5), and the lightly raced Splendora (5-1) (4: 2-2-0).
Attempting to rise above the impressive triad and delivering for the “field” side is 4-year-old filly Kopion (7-5). A two-time graded stakes winner in her own right, the Richard Mandella trainee prevailed last time out in the La Brea (G1) on Dec. 26.
So, Baffert or the field?
Upstanding Citizen
Equipped with a price tag of $675,000, expectations were high for Citizen Bull out of the gate.
All the 3-year-old colt has done since is go 3-for-4 with two Grade 1 stakes triumphs (American Pharoah and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile) to set his career earnings total north $1.3 million. Not too shabby.
Citizen Bull finds himself in search of win number five this Saturday when he will take on four challengers in the $200,000 Robert B. Lewis (G3).
The Martin Garcia mount returns to Santa Anita – the site of his American Pharoah success – for the 1-mile Robert B. Lewis well-rested following a three-month cool off.
Oddsmakers are bullish on Citizen Bull’s chances, billing him as the slight 6-5 opening line choice over 7-5 foe Rodriguez.
Road to Prosperity
Sticking with the theme of pricey investments, Tappan Street (half-brother to Citizen Bull), ran his ownership group $1 million at auction.
The largely untested 3-year-old colt will try to recoup costs this Saturday in the coincidentally named $265,000 Holy Bull (G3) at Gulfstream Park.
After clearing his professional debut by 1 ¾-lengths on Dec. 28, Tappan Street faces his first challenge above the maiden level in the Holy Bull.
The highly regarded youngster will also be stretching out from 7-furlongs to 1 1/16-miles.
While a decorated career at the graded ranks has always been the plan for Tappan Street, it will be interesting to see how he responds to his new surroundings.
The seven-figure yearling enters at 3-1.
Time for a Break
Sporting a symmetrical 4-4-4 line through 20 lifetime starts, Taxed eyes a jump to the next win bracket in Saturday’s $165,000 American Beauty at Oaklawn Park.
A six-race scoreless stretch has put a pause on the 5-year-old mare’s progress, but Taxed has shown signs of life the last three times out recording a pair of thirds (Grade 3 Chilukki; Pippin Stakes) and a second (Mistletoe Stakes).
While the Randy Morse charge couldn’t break the spell, she did get back on the podium after missing out in the two starts preceding the uptick in performance (fifth in the Groupie Doll and Grade 2 Locust Grove).
Perhaps the horse listed at 5-2 on the opening line (behind only 8-5 favorite Benedetta) is ready for an overdue breakthrough in the 6-furlong American Beauty.
Over the Moon
Playing the ‘Return on Investment’ game has been fun thus far, so we might as well end this week’s edition of ‘What’s on Track’ with one final round.
Finance folks, what’s the ROI on a horse purchased for $15,000 that’s since earned $1,022,900? If you said, 6,719.33% that would be correct.
This is the story of 6-year-old gelding Touchuponstar, who has been nothing short of a marvel Set-Hut LLC and trainer Jeff Delhomme.
The standout veteran can push those gaudy totals even higher with another strong showing in Saturday’s $150,000 LA Bred Premier Night Championship at Delta Downs.
Doubling back as the 1 1/16-mile dash’s defending champion, Touchuponastar opens as the decisive 4-5 favorite.
Through 19 career starts, the Timothy Thornton mount owns a stellar 13-4-2 record with 10 stakes scores.