Muth makes his expensive purchase price look good in American Pharoah Stakes
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ARCADIA, Calif. - Muth won his first stakes in his third start in Saturday’s Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita, but it was not the first time the colt has been at the center of this year’s cast of juveniles.
Back in March, Muth was purchased by Zedan Racing for $2 million, the most expensive hip of the prominent Ocala Breeders’ March Sale of 2-year-olds in-training in Florida.
Muth, by Good Magic, made the expensive buy look good in the $301,500 American Pharoah Stakes at 1 1/16 miles, closing from fourth to win by 3 3/4 lengths over stablemate Wine Me Up. Muth ($2.80) was timed in 1:42.45 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 91.
“He ran professionally,” trainer Bob Baffert said on Sunday morning. “Down the backside, I thought he was in a good spot if he had a kick.”
Baffert won the American Pharoah for a record 12th time on Saturday. Baffert has won the last three runnings of the American Pharoah and five of the last six.
The Hall of Fame trainer is planning to have three starters in the BC Juvenile, including Wine Me Up and Prince of Monaco, who was held out of the American Pharoah after stretching his unbeaten record to three races in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity at seven furlongs on Sept. 10.
Prince of Monaco worked five furlongs in a quick 59.60 seconds on Sunday.
In his only loss in three starts, Muth was second to Prince of Monaco in the Grade 3 Best Pal Stakes at six furlongs at Del Mar on Aug. 13. Muth was entered in the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga on Sept. 4, but was scratched.
Wine Me Up was beaten in his second start in the American Pharoah, having won a maiden race at six furlongs at Del Mar on Sept. 2. Wine Me Up was fitted with blinkers in his first two starts, but the equipment will be removed for the BC Juvenile, Baffert said.
Baffert, 70, will have his expected deep team for the Breeders’ Cup. He has won 18 Breeders’ Cup races, second on the all-time list to D. Wayne Lukas with 20. Baffert’s runners have earned a record $39,345,000 in Breeders’ Cup races. His career has coincided with the expansion of the racing series from a one-day to a two-day event in 2007.
This year, Baffert has a leading contender in the BC Classic with the 3-year-old Arabian Knight, who won the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at 1 1/4 miles in his debut against older horses at Del Mar on Sept. 2. On Saturday at Santa Anita, Arabian Knight worked six furlongs in 1:12.60.
Plans are less certain for Defunded, the winner of the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup at 1 1/4 miles at Santa Anita on May 29. Defunded has been beaten in his last three starts, including a sixth in the Pacific Classic and a second to the now-sidelined Slow Down Andy in the Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes at 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita on Sept. 30.
The winners of the Pacific Classic and Awesome Again received fees-paid berths to the BC Classic. Owners Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman must pay $150,000 to pre-enter and enter Defunded in the $6 million BC Classic. The winner’s share is $3.12 million.
“I wish he’d won a win and you’re in race,” Baffert said. “He likes this track. As we get closer, we’ll see how the field is developing.”
Another option for Defunded is the Grade 3 Native Diver Stakes at 1 1/8 miles at Del Mar on Nov. 26, a race the gelding won last year.
Baffert has other BC runners in Adare Manor for the BC Distaff, Speed Boat Beach in the BC Sprint, and Du Jour in the BC Mile on turf.
Baffert said he has not decided whether Eda will run in the BC Filly and Mare Sprint or whether Dua will run in the BC Juvenile Fillies.
Eda finished third in the Grade 3 Chillingworth Stakes at Santa Anita on Sept. 29, a loss that ended a seven-race winning streak that began in October 2021 and included six stakes.
Baffert said he has not decided whether to start Dua in the BC Juvenile Fillies on Nov. 3 after she finished third to Chatalas in the Grade 2 Chandelier Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita.
Dua was second in early stretch and was beaten 1 3/4 lengths. Baffert said the Grade 2 Starlet Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Los Alamitos on Dec. 9 may be Dua’s next start.
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