Muth works five furlongs with eye on Preakness Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. - Muth, a powerful winner of the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park on March 30, and Imagination, second by a neck in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 6, worked at Santa Anita on Sunday in advance of expected starts in the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on May 18 for trainer Bob Baffert.

Muth worked five furlongs in 1:00.20, while Imagination went a half-mile in 48 seconds.

Muth is the subject of legal action in Kentucky by owner Amr Zedan in an effort to gain a temporary injunction against a ban placed against Baffert by Churchill Downs disallowing his horses from starting in the Kentucky Derby on May 4.

Zedan is seeking court relief that will allow the colt to participate.

Last week, a Kentucky court ruled against Zedan’s request for a temporary injunction, stating that Zedan did not suffer “irreparable harm” when he left the colt with Baffert even though the racetrack had stated Baffert would not be allowed to have starters in the Kentucky Derby.

Zedan has appealed the decision to the Kentucky Court of Appeals. Churchill Downs banned Baffert for two years after Medina Spirit finished first in the 2021 Kentucky Derby but tested positive for a regulated medication. The ban was extended for a year by Churchill Downs officials last year to include the May 4 race.

Baffert has won the Preakness Stakes a record eight times, including last May with National Treasure.

Ball Don't Lie heading to N.Y

Ball Don’t Lie, the winner of a six-furlong maiden race in his second start at Santa Anita on April 6, is scheduled to be shipped to New York to continue his career this spring, trainer Mark Glatt said on Sunday.

Ball Don’t Lie, a colt by Blame, was bred in New York and will race in the statebred division on that circuit.

Owned by the partnership of Muir Hut Stable and Saints and Sinners, Ball Don’t Lie disputed the pace throughout the April 6 race before winning by 1 1/2 lengths. He was timed in 1:08.79 and earned an attractive Beyer Speed Figure of 97.

Ball Don’t Lie was ridden by Frankie Dettori, one of six consecutive winners the famous jockey had on April 6.

Ball Don’t Lie, who will be trained by Rob Atras, will be considered for the $125,000 Mike Lee Stakes at seven furlongs at the Belmont at Saratoga weekend on June 9.

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