Barnes, who endured his first defeat in the San Felipe (G2) March 1, and standout debut winner Cornucopian worked six furlongs at Santa Anita Park in company March 17 for trainer Bob Baffert. They were joined on the tab by fellow Baffert-trained 3-year-olds Citizen Bull, Gaming, and Rodriguez.
Barnes and Cornucopian were clocked in 1:11 4/5 to share the bullet for six furlongs.
"I was trying to get a good work into them. They both went well," Baffert said.
Citizen Bull drilled six furlongs in company in 1:12. He worked in company with Nafisa, a 4-year-old filly who is winless in six starts. For Citizen Bull, it was his third six-furlong work in the past 22 days. Last year's champion 2-year-old male, Citizen Bull exits a win in the Robert B. Lewis (G3) at Santa Anita Park when making his sophomore debut Feb. 1.
Gaming earned a bullet with a five-furlong work in :59. By Game Winner , Gaming was expected to run in the March 15 Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs but did not make the trip after reportedly spiking a fever.
Rodriguez, who was third in the San Felipe, worked four furlongs in :48 3/5.
Baffert said it remains to be determined where the quintet of 3-year-olds will make their next starts. Options include the Santa Anita Derby (G1) April 5 and both the Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park and Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park March 29.
"I'll know more by next week," he said.
Cornucopian was an eye-catching winner at Oaklawn when sprinting six furlongs Feb. 23. The Into Mischief colt blitzed through fractions of :21.86, :45.50, and :57.41 seconds before crossing the wire a 5 3/4-length winner in a time of 1:09.02. He earned a lofty 101 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort. Oaklawn officials reported it was the fastest time in track history for a 3-year-old maiden special weight at six furlongs.
Cornucopian was a $1.1 million purchase at the 2023 Keeneland September yearling sale. He is owned by an extensive ownership group led by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, and Stonestreet Stables. Dubbed "The Avengers" by Baffert, they are also the principal owners of both Citizen Bull and Rodriguez.
Barnes, owned by Zedan Racing, was making his two-turn debut when upended in the San Felipe by top 3-year-old prospect Journalism. Barnes set fractions of :23.71, :47.31, and 1:11.10 before being overtaken in deep stretch. Despite the loss, Barnes still earned a career-best 105 Beyer Speed Figure.
Also working for Baffert was unbeaten 4-year-old Nysos, who hasn't started since February 2024 when winning the Robert B. Lewis. The Nyquist colt was clocked in 1:12 2/5 for six furlongs.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
