2023 Eclipse Awards: Muth

With a high price tag comes high expectations. Muth, who sold for a record-equaling $2 million at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. 2-year-olds in training sale in March did a pretty good job of reaching those expectations in 2023.

Muth won 2 of 4 starts, including the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes. That victory and his runner-up finish to Fierceness in the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita earned Muth a spot as finalist for the Eclipse Award in the 2-year-old male division.

Muth is a son of 2017 juvenile champ Good Magic and the first foal out of the Uncle Mo mare Hoppa. He was bred by Don Alberto Corporation. The colt’s rapid breeze of 9.60 seconds at the under-tack show helped him sell for an OBS sale-record $2 million, which equaled the price of a New York-bred Tapit colt who eventually became Chestertown. Muth was purchased by Donato Lanni on behalf of Amr Zedan and was turned over to trainer Bob Baffert.

:: Full list of 2023 Eclipse Awards finalists, including profile stories

Muth flashed similar speed to his sales workout when he won his five-furlong debut by 8 1/4 lengths on June 18 at Santa Anita. In his second start, the Grade 3 Best Pal on Aug. 13 at Del Mar, Muth found one better, finishing second to his Baffert-trained stablemate Prince of Monaco.

Baffert shipped Muth to Saratoga to run in the Grade 1 Hopeful on Labor Day, but scratched the horse the morning of the race. Baffert re-routed Muth back to California, where on Oct. 7, in the American Pharoah at Santa Anita, he showed the ability to rate and get two turns as he defeated stablemate Wine Me Up by 3 3/4 lengths.

“I wasn’t sure about Muth [getting two turns], especially the way he ran the time before,” Baffert said. “I freshened him up and look at the way he ran.”

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The American Pharoah victory earned Muth an automatic bid in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, also at Santa Anita. Muth, ridden by Juan Hernandez, was sitting a sweet trip in third down the backside, just behind General Partner and a stalking Fierceness. Fierceness took over from General Partner before the quarter pole, and Muth confronted Fierceness turning for home. But Fierceness pulled away in the stretch, defeating Muth by 6 1/4 lengths, while Muth held off favored Locked by a half-length for second.

Baffert didn’t waste any time getting Muth back on the work tab as the horse breezed Nov. 15. He made his first start as a 3-year-old on Jan. 6, winning the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes over seven furlongs at Santa Anita, and has several options for his next start.

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