HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – In an outstanding performance from both Muth and his trainer, Bob Baffert, the $2 million colt shipped into Oaklawn Park and in his first start in three months won the Grade 1, $1.5 million Arkansas Derby. The 1 1/8-mile race was run before an estimated ontrack crowd of 60,000. It was the highlight of the meet that continues into May, and it’s a race that Baffert has now won five times. He shares the local record for trainer wins in the race with Todd Pletcher. Muth defeated a deep field of runners, winning by two lengths over Just Steel. It was another 4 1/4 lengths to Mystik Dan, who finished a half-length in front of favorite and Grade 1 winner Timberlake. Muth established himself as an Eclipse Award finalist for 2-year-old male champion of 2023 when he won the Grade 1 American Pharoah and returned to finish second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile to eventual champion Fierceness. Fierceness on Saturday was a double-digit winner of the Florida Derby. Muth ($6.60) tracked the pace in second in the Arkansas Derby, as Time for Truth ran the opening quarter in 23.43 seconds before Timberlake moved to the lead along the rail and led through a half-mile in 47.46 and six furlongs in 1:12.26. Muth took over coming to the quarter pole under regular rider Juan Hernandez and was strong to the wire to cover the distance on a fast track in 1:49.54. Muth earned a career-high 98 Beyer Speed Figure. “I was a little bit worried about the speed – it wasn’t really holding today,” Baffert said. “He was in a good spot. Down the backside, when I saw Timberlake sneak up in there, I thought maybe he was going to control the race from there. “I felt like he was the horse to beat. But you know Muth, [one of only two horses to have] beaten him was Fierceness and we saw what he did today. I’m just happy for everybody. It’s a very prestigious race winning that. You know how we feel about Oaklawn.” Hernandez was winning his first Oaklawn stakes from five career mounts in Arkansas. He is based in Southern California. Hernandez was thrilled with the effort from his regular mount Muth. “Around the three-eighths, I asked him to pick it up and he responded,” Hernandez told Oaklawn publicity. “And then around the quarter pole, I asked him for everything that he had and he showed that he has a lot of talent. He just took off again.” Muth came into the Arkansas Derby off a win in the Grade 2 San Vicente in his 3-year-old debut Jan. 6. He had been penciled in for the Rebel last month at Oaklawn, but his final work was disrupted and Baffert brought him up to the Arkansas Derby off a series of six-furlong works at Santa Anita. Muth will forfeit the 100 Kentucky Derby points on offer in the Arkansas Derby as Churchill has extended a house policy of not accepting Kentucky Derby entries from Baffert in a long-disputed case dating back to the disqualification of 2021 Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit. Baffert was asked during a press conference if he was disappointed Muth, who is nominated to the Triple Crown, would not be able to advance to the Kentucky Derby. “I don’t even think about it right now,” he said. “What I worry about is the horse. It was just a very important race to win [Saturday], his first time on the road, and for Juan. It was a very important win. Anytime you win a race like that, that’s why we’re in the business. It was exciting to watch him come down the lane. Such a nice horse. I’m just proud of the horse.” Baffert said plans going forward are to be determined for Muth. Muth is a son of Good Magic owned by Zedan Racing Stable. He has now won 4 of 6 starts for earnings of $1,504,100. He was a seven-figure purchase at auction last March at 2.   Just Steel earned 50 points for the Kentucky Derby for 88-year-old trainer D. Wayne Lukas. He is a Hall of Fame member, like Baffert. “I’m happy for Wayne to get in the Derby,” Baffert said. Mystik Dan earned 25 points for third, and Timberlake earned 15 for fourth. Informed Patriot, who was fifth, picked up 10 points. Liberal Arts finished sixth in the Arkansas Derby, but after a stewards’ inquiry into the first turn, he was placed eighth for impeding a rival. Oaklawn handled $23.6 million on its 13-race card from all sources Saturday. There is no racing Sunday in observance of Easter. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.