Muth (foaled April 28, 2021) is a multiple Grade I winning American Thoroughbred racehorse. In 2023 the two-year-old colt won the Grade I American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita Park. In 2024 he won the Grade I Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park.
| Muth | |
|---|---|
| Sire | Good Magic |
| Grandsire | Curlin |
| Dam | Hoppa |
| Damsire | Uncle Mo |
| Sex | colt |
| Foaled | April 28, 2021[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Color | Bay |
| Breeder | Don Alberto Corporation |
| Owner | Zedan Racing Stables |
| Trainer | Bob Baffert |
| Record | 6: 4 - 2 - 0 |
| Earnings | $1,504,100[2] |
| Major wins | |
| American Pharoah Stakes (2023) San Vicente Stakes (2024) Arkansas Derby (2024) | |
| Last updated on April 1, 2024 | |
Background edit
Muth is a bay colt who was bred by the Don Alberto Corporation, out of the winning Uncle Mo mare Hoppa. Muth is the mare's first foal. Muth was first sold in 2022 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale as part of the Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency consignment for US$190,000 to the Bishop Bloodstock. The following year Muth was auctioned at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's 2023 March Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training for US$2 million to Amr Zedan and his Zedan Racing Stables.[3]
Muth was named after Aaron Muth, a long time friend and enthusiastic supporter of trainer Bob Baffert and his stable. When it came to naming the horse after owner Amr Zedan purchased him, Baffert asked if the horse could be named after his longtime support and Zedan agreed.[3]
Racing career edit
2023: two-year-old season edit
Muth won his debut race in June 2023 as a two-year-old at Santa Anita Park, beating five others in the five-furlong sprint by 8+3⁄4 lengths.[4] He then competed in the Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar Racetrack in August, where he finished second after being bumped at the start.[5] Muth returned to Santa Anita in the fall to win the American Pharoah Stakes,[6] before finishing his two-year-old season with a second place finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
2024: three-year-old season edit
Muth's first race of 2024 as a three-year-old came in the San Vicente Stakes, which he won to give his trainer Bob Baffert his 13th win in the race.[7] Muth was then shipped to Oaklawn Park to compete in their signature race, the Arkansas Derby. Sent off as the second choice, Muth put away favored Timberlake near the far turn and maintained his lead to the finish, winning by two lengths.[8]
Following Muth's win in Arkansas, Baffert said that the horse would race next in the Preakness Stakes, the second jewel of thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown.[9] Muth is not eligible to compete in the 2024 Kentucky Derby after Churchill Downs extended a ban on Baffert entering horses at its tracks following the positive drug test and subsequent disqualification of 2021 Derby winner Medina Spirit.[10] Legal challenges by Zedan to lift Churchill's ban on Baffert were dismissed by both the Jefferson County Circuit Court and the Kentucky Court of Appeals.[11][12] Had Muth been eligible, he would have had enough Road to the Kentucky Derby points to compete.[11]
Statistics edit
| Date | Distance | Race | Grade | Track | Odds | Field | Finish | Winning Time |
Winning (Losing) Margin |
Jockey | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 – Two-year-old season | |||||||||||
| Jun 18, 2023 | 5 furlongs | Maiden Special Weight | Santa Anita | 0.30* | 6 | 1 | 0:57.29 | 8+3⁄4 lengths | Juan J. Hernandez | [4] | |
| Aug 13, 2023 | 6 furlongs | Best Pal Stakes | III | Del Mar | 0.50* | 5 | 2 | 1:09.19 | (4+1⁄4 lengths) | Juan J. Hernandez | [5] |
| Oct 7, 2023 | 1+1⁄16 miles | American Pharoah Stakes | I | Santa Anita | 0.40* | 8 | 1 | 1:42.45 | 3+3⁄4 lengths | Juan J. Hernandez | [13] |
| Nov 3, 2023 | 1+1⁄16 miles | Breeders' Cup Juvenile | I | Santa Anita | 2.70 | 9 | 2 | 1:41.90 | (6+1⁄4 lengths) | Juan J. Hernandez | [14] |
| 2024 – Three-year-old season | |||||||||||
| Jan 6, 2024 | 7 furlongs | San Vicente Stakes | II | Santa Anita | 0.40* | 6 | 1 | 1:23.01 | 2+3⁄4 lengths | Juan J. Hernandez | [15] |
| Mar 30, 2024 | 1+1⁄8 miles | Arkansas Derby | I | Oaklawn Park | 2.30 | 10 | 1 | 1:49.54 | 2 lengths | Juan J. Hernandez | [16] |
Notes:
An (*) asterisk after the odds means Timberlake was the post-time favorite.
Pedigree edit
| Sire Good Magic (2015) |
Curlin (2004) |
Smart Strike (CAN) (1992) |
Mr. Prospector (1970) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classy 'n Smart (CAN) (1981) | |||
| Sheriff's Deputy (1994) |
Deputy Minister (CAN) (1979) | ||
| Barbarika (1985) | |||
| Glinda the Good (2009) |
Hard Spun (2004) |
Danzig (1977) | |
| Turkish Tryst (1991) | |||
| Magical Flash (1990) |
Miswaki (1978) | ||
| Gil's Magic (1983) | |||
| Dam Hoppa (2016) |
Uncle Mo (2008) |
Indian Charlie (1995) |
In Excess (IRE) (1987) |
| Soviet Sojourn (1989) | |||
| Playa Maya (2000) |
Arch (1995) | ||
| Dixie Slippers (1995) | |||
| Handoverthecat (2010) |
Tale of the Cat (1994) |
Storm Cat (1983) | |
| Yarn (1987) | |||
| Frayne (1999) |
Red Ransom (1987) | ||
| Beautiful Bedouin (1984)[17] |
References edit
- ^ a b "Pedigree of Muth". Equineline. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
- ^ "Profile of Muth". Equibase. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
- ^ a b Gantz, Tracy (April 1, 2024). "Muth Leads Baffert 1-2 Finish in American Pharoah; Muth drew away from his front-running stablemate Wine Me Up in late stretch". Bloodhorse.com. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
- ^ a b "Chart for June 18, 2023 at Santa Anita Park - race 2". www.equibase.com. June 18, 2023. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
- ^ a b "2023 Best Pal Stakes Grade 3 - (race 4)". www.equibase.com. August 13, 2023. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
- ^ Andersen, Steve (October 8, 2023). "Muth makes his expensive purchase price look good in American Pharoah Stakes". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
- ^ Andersen, Steve (January 7, 2024). "Muth shows he belongs in Eclipse picture with San Vicente". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
- ^ King, Byron (March 30, 2024). "Muth an Easy Winner Over Just Steel in Arkansas Derby". The Blood-Horse. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
- ^ "Muth to Target Preakness". Thoroughbred Daily News. April 3, 2024. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
- ^ Whyno, Stephen (July 3, 2023). "Churchill Downs extends trainer Bob Baffert's ban through 2024". Associated Press. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
- ^ a b "Judge denies request for Bob Baffert-trained Arkansas Derby winner Muth to run in Kentucky Derby". Associated Press. April 18, 2024. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
- ^ Downey, Dick (April 24, 2024). "Court of Appeals Denies Zedan Emergency Motion". The Blood-Horse. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
- ^ "American Pharoah Stakes Grade 1 – (Race 9)". Equibase. October 7, 2023. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
- ^ "FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Grade 1 – (Race 8)". Equibase. November 3, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
- ^ "2024 San Vicente Stakes Grade 2 (race 8)". Equibase. January 6, 2024. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
- ^ "2024 Arkansas Derby Grade 1 (race 12)". Equibase. March 30, 2024. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
- ^ "Thoroughbred Bloodlines – WAGTAIL (GB) b f 1818 – Family 21-a". www.bloodlines.net. Retrieved April 1, 2024.