Journalism writes winning story in Santa Anita Derby. Baffert’s duo finishes 4th and 5th

By Canadian Press on April 5, 2025.

Journalism won the $500,000 Santa Anita Derby by three-quarters of a length Saturday, with trainer Bob Baffert’s duo finishing fourth and fifth in the West Coast’s major prep for next month’s Kentucky Derby.

Baffert fared better on the East Coast, with Rodriguez leading all the way to win the $750,000 Wood Memorial by 3 1/2 lengths, earning enough points to move into the 20-horse field for the Kentucky Derby.

Journalism stamped himself as the favorite for the 151st running of the Derby on May 3. He overcame some trouble in the race and put away Citizen Bull, last year’s 2-year-old champion, to win his fourth in a row.

The five-horse field at Santa Anita was the smallest for the 1 1/8-mile race since 2006.

Ridden by Umberto Rispoli, Journalism ran the distance in 1:49.56. Sent off as the even-money favorite, he paid $4 to win.

Baeza finished second and 40-1 shot Westwood was third. Both are trained by John Shirreffs.

The Baffert-trained Citizen Bull and Barnes finished fourth and last, respectively.

In New York, Rodriguez broke from the rail and ran 1 1/8 miles on a fast track in 1:48.15 under Hall of Famer Mike Smith in light rain and 45-degree temperatures at Aqueduct.

The victory was worth 100 qualifying points for the Derby, potentially giving Baffert three entrants as he seeks a record-setting seventh victory in his return to the race from which he was banned for three years.

Baffert sent Rodriguez to New York to split up his Derby contenders. The colt was sent off at 7-2 odds in the 10-horse field and paid $9.30 to win the 100th edition of the Wood. He is a son of 2020 Kentucky Derby winner Authentic.

“Bob told me this horse is probably quicker than you think,” Smith said. “He can get uptight pretty easy, and the whole key was just letting him alone out there. I don’t think he necessarily has to have the lead. He just wants to be left alone.”

Smith has twice won the Kentucky Derby. Rodriguez would be his first mount since 2022. At 59, he would be the oldest jockey to win.

“That’s up to all the owners and Bob,” Smith said. “I was glad they pulled me off the bench and I hit a 3-shot for them.”

Grande, trained by Todd Pletcher, was second. He went from having zero qualifying points to 50, which should get him into the Derby starting gate for owner Mike Repole, who is 0 for 7 in the Derby.

Passion Rules was third. Captain Cook, the 9-5 favorite, finished fourth for trainer Rick Dutrow, who hasn’t had a Derby runner since 2010 after winning the 2008 race with Big Brown.

The $1.25 million Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland was postponed from Saturday to Tuesday due to heavy rain and potential flooding in the region. That race and the Lexington Stakes on April 12 are the final Derby preps of the season.

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AP horse racing: https://apnews.com/hub/horse-racing

Beth Harris, The Associated Press