The Breeders' Cup Juvenile has long been considered a bellwether for the Kentucky Derby, with many expecting the winner to go on and claim the coveted Triple Crown. However, the reality has been far less kind to the Juvenile champions, particularly those trained by the legendary Bob Baffert. As Citizen Bull's recent victory added to Baffert's record-setting sixth Juvenile win, savvy handicappers are once again looking elsewhere for the next Kentucky Derby winner.

Uncovering the Curse: Baffert's Juvenile Winners Struggle to Translate Success

The Fallen Favorites: Baffert's Juvenile Winners and Their Fates

Baffert's Juvenile winners have often been touted as the next big thing, only to falter in their subsequent campaigns. Vindication, the 2002 champion, was sidelined by a suspensory injury and never raced again after his Juvenile triumph. Midshipman, the 2008 victor, was transferred to a different trainer and managed just one notable result, a third-place finish in the Dirt Mile as a 3-year-old. New Year's Day, the 2013 Juvenile winner, was retired after a chip in his left hind sesamoid was discovered, never having the chance to compete in the new year.

The Lone Survivor: Game Winner's Respectable Derby Effort

Game Winner, Baffert's 2018 Juvenile champion, stands as the sole exception to the rule. After a dominant 4-for-4 campaign at 2, including a victory over future star Knicks Go, Game Winner made the highly anticipated progression to the Kentucky Derby. However, his Derby run was marred by various woes, and he could only manage a fifth-place finish. Injuries would ultimately cut short his 3-year-old season, and he was retired after winning the Los Alamitos Derby.

The Fallen Prodigies: Corniche and the Baffert Controversy

The most recent addition to Baffert's Juvenile winners, Corniche, displayed immense promise in his 2-year-old season, winning the American Pharoah Stakes (G1) before his Juvenile triumph. However, Corniche's story took an unexpected turn when Baffert's ongoing dispute with Churchill Downs led to the colt's transfer to Todd Pletcher's barn. Corniche's lone start for Pletcher, in the Amsterdam Stakes (G2), ended in a last-place finish, and he was subsequently retired due to a hind joint injury.

The Curse Continues: Citizen Bull and the Uncertain Future

Citizen Bull's recent Juvenile victory has once again thrust Baffert's Juvenile winners into the spotlight. As the trainer's sixth Juvenile champion, Citizen Bull now joins the ranks of Baffert's past Juvenile winners, all of whom have struggled to translate their early success into lasting greatness. With the Kentucky Derby looming, the question remains: will Citizen Bull be able to break the curse, or will he too fall victim to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile's notorious jinx?