Citizen Bull

Connections

Owner: SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Bashor, Dianne, Determined Stables, Masterson, Robert E., Ryan, Tom J., Waves Edge Capital LLC and Donovan, Catherine
Breeders: Robert Low & Lawana Low
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Martin Garcia

Citizen Bull: 2025 Kentucky Derby Contender Profile

Citizen Bull, a 3-year-old colt by Into Mischief out of No Joke, heads into the 2025 Kentucky Derby with a stellar record, including wins in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) (1:43.04 over 1 1/16 miles), American Pharoah Stakes (G1) (1:44.09), and Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) (1:36.50 over 1 mile). Despite a fourth-place finish in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) (1:49.75), his 115 Derby points secure his spot. With a pedigree featuring Harlan’s Holiday and Distorted Humor, Citizen Bull charges toward glory on May 3, 2025, at Churchill Downs.

Pedigree

Citizen Bull
├── Sire: Into Mischief
│   ├── Sire: Harlan’s Holiday
│   └── Dam: Leslie’s Lady (by Tricky Creek)
└── Dam: No Joke
    ├── Sire: Distorted Humor
    └── Dam: Unenchantedevening (by Unbridled’s Song)

1st Generation Pedigree

• Sire: Into Mischief
  Into Mischief, a leading North American sire by progeny earnings from 2019 to 2024, is a son of Harlan’s Holiday. He won the 2007 CashCall Futurity (G1) at 1 1/16 miles and has sired two Kentucky Derby winners: Authentic (2020) and Mandaloun (2021, via disqualification of Medina Spirit). Into Mischief stands at Spendthrift Farm for $250,000 in 2025, and his progeny include other 2025 Derby contenders like Sovereignty and Tappan Street.
• Dam: No Joke
  No Joke, by Distorted Humor, is an unraced mare but a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Moonshine Memories (by Malibu Moon), who won the 2017 Del Mar Debutante (G1). No Joke was purchased for $750,000 as a Keeneland September yearling by Robert and Lawana Low, who bred Citizen Bull. Her family includes 1997 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner and Horse of the Year Favorite Trick.

2nd Generation Pedigree

• Into Mischief’s Parents (Citizen Bull’s Paternal Grandparents)
  Into Mischief’s sire is Harlan’s Holiday, as you confirmed, a successful stallion who finished 7th in the 2002 Kentucky Derby but won the 2002 Florida Derby (G1) at 1 1/8 miles. Harlan’s Holiday, by Harlan, descends from the Northern Dancer sire line via Storm Cat, and his progeny often show early speed and versatility. Into Mischief’s dam is Leslie’s Lady, by Tricky Creek, a Broodmare of the Year in 2016 who also produced Hall of Famer Beholder and multi-millionaire Mendelssohn, adding depth to Citizen Bull’s paternal line.
• No Joke’s Parents (Citizen Bull’s Maternal Grandparents)
  No Joke’s sire is Distorted Humor, a leading broodmare sire whose daughters have produced 157 stakes winners, including Arrogate and Constitution. Distorted Humor, by Forty Niner, sired 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Funny Cide, and his influence often adds speed and class . No Joke’s dam is Unenchantedevening, by Unbridled’s Song, a half-sister to 1997 Horse of the Year Favorite Trick. Unbridled’s Song, a successful sire, produced Arrogate (bred on a reverse cross to No Joke), and his line through Unbridled brings stamina to the pedigree.

Additional Notes on Citizen Bull’s Pedigree

• Paternal Line (Into Mischief): Harlan’s Holiday, a grandson of Storm Cat, brings early speed and versatility, though his 7th-place finish in the 2002 Derby suggests limited stamina at 1 1/4 miles. Into Mischief, however, has overcome this, siring Authentic and Mandaloun, both of whom handled the Derby distance, with Authentic winning wire-to-wire in 2020. Leslie’s Lady adds quality—her progeny like Beholder (a champion) and Mendelssohn (a Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner) show versatility, suggesting Citizen Bull could adapt to various racing scenarios.
• Maternal Line (No Joke): Distorted Humor’s daughters have produced classic winners like Arrogate (by Unbridled’s Song), though the Into Mischief-Distorted Humor cross hasn’t produced a graded winner beyond 1 1/8 miles, raising some stamina concerns for Citizen Bull. Unenchantedevening, by Unbridled’s Song, mirrors Arrogate’s pedigree in reverse, and Unbridled’s Song’s line (through Unbridled) has produced Derby winners like 1996 winner Grindstone, adding some stamina potential. The family’s history with Favorite Trick and Tiz the Law (2020 Belmont winner) further supports Citizen Bull’s classic credentials.
• Pedigree Fit for the Derby: Citizen Bull’s pedigree blends speed and stamina. Into Mischief’s success with Derby winners and Unbridled’s Song’s classic influence suggest he can handle 1 1/4 miles, as noted in his conformation analysis. However, the Into Mischief-Distorted Humor cross’s lack of success beyond 1 1/8 miles is a concern, especially given his late fade in the Santa Anita Derby (April 5, 2025), where he “flattened out” after leading. His front-running style, seen in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and American Pharoah Stakes, may need adjustment to sustain the Derby distance, a challenge we’ve seen with other speed horses like Rodriguez (April 18, 2025, 05:01).

Citizen Bull’s Race Record