HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Trainer Bob Baffert said Sunday that Southern California-based Muth handled a number of new variables with aplomb winning Saturday’s Grade 1, $1.5 million Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park – save one. “The only thing he didn’t handle was the flowers,” Baffert said of the blanket of gardenias. “When they went to put the flowers on, he didn’t want any part of that. I told them to bring them back home. We’re going to school him in the flowers.” Muth otherwise got good grades from Baffert for his two-length win. The horse, who was moving back to two turns off a win in the Grade 2 San Vicente on Jan. 6 at Santa Anita, tracked the pace in second, moved to the fore coming to the quarter pole, and went on to win the 1 1/8-mile race in 1:49.54. Muth earned a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 98. “You never know how they progress, and he hadn’t run in a while, so I just gave him that extra time,” Baffert said. “He was going into the race well, but you just don’t know until they do it. It was first time on the road. There were questions that needed to be answered.” Baffert noted Muth “broke a little half-step” slow. The horse moved to the lead with Time for Truth soon afterward as Muth’s regular rider, Juan Hernandez, kept his mount a bit away from that one to avoid rank behavior. As the field started to sort itself out for the run down the backside, Timberlake came between the horses and proceeded to set the pace.  “After that, [Juan] got [Muth] to follow that horse around there,” Baffert said. :: KENTUCKY DERBY 2024: Derby Watch, point standings, prep schedule, news, and more Muth overtook Timberlake coming to the quarter pole. “Juan told me he was getting better the farther he went,” Baffert said. “It looks like distance is not going to be a problem for him at all. He galloped out way in front of everybody.” Baffert said plans are to be determined for Muth. “Right now, we’re going to get him back here and let him tell us what he’s ready for,” Baffert said. “I like the fact that he handled everything really well. He handled the ship. The only thing he didn’t handle was the flowers.” The Arkansas Derby offered its winner 100 points for the Kentucky Derby, but those will go unclaimed. Churchill Downs has extended for a year its current house policy of not accepting entries from Baffert following the disqualification of 2021 Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit for a medication violation. Muth, a $2 million purchase at auction at 2, earned $787,500 for his win Saturday to push his career bankroll past $1.5 million in just six career starts for Zedan Racing Stables. Just Steel, who was second in the Arkansas Derby, earned 50 points and will proceed to the Kentucky Derby for owners BC Stables, trainer D. Wayne Lukas said Sunday. Lukas added he would love to see the field for the classic include runners from Baffert, a friend and fellow Hall of Famer. Baffert said Saturday following the Arkansas Derby that he was pleased to see Lukas, who is 88, headed back to the Kentucky Derby.   “I really wish Bob was in the race,” Lukas said. “He’s got some nice horses. They deserve to be in there. I wish he was in there.” Just Steel ranks eighth on the Kentucky Derby points list, with a total of 65. Earlier this year, he was second in two other points races at Oaklawn, the Grade 3 Southwest and Smarty Jones. Catching Freedom, who won the Smarty Jones, returned to win the Louisiana Derby.  Just Steel stalked the pace in fourth in the Arkansas Derby and rallied for second at 32-1. He rebounded from a seventh-place finish in the Rebel and earned a career-high Beyer of 95 on Saturday.  :: Bet with the Best! Get FREE All-Access PPs and Weekly Cashback when you wager on DRF Bets. “He stumbled a little bit on his lead change and lost his momentum, his stride, a little bit, or I think he would have made that awful close,” Lukas said. “He’s heading in the right direction and he’s getting better every time. At least he had a good trip this time.” Lukas said Just Steel would likely ship to Churchill around April 13 or 14. He said Sunday he likes the five weeks between the Arkansas Derby and Kentucky Derby for Just Steel.   “I think it’s a good move,” he said. “It depends on who you’ve got in your barn, who you’re training, and who’s doing the training. But the five weeks doesn’t bother me. I like the idea of being able to fine tune a horse that’s probably needing a little more time and experience like ours. “He’s such a big horse, I knew that it’s going to take some time. I think his best races are in front of him. I’ve leaned on him pretty good to get to this point. Now I’ve got five weeks, which I think I’ll really enjoy doing some of the things I want to do with him.” Lukas said he’s pleased to see Just Steel position himself for the Derby for owners BC Stables. “They’re totally excited about having him in there,” he said. “They have spent so much money and everything it was really significant, I think, that we give them a chance to maybe have a Derby horse. It worked out pretty good.” Lukas said Keith Asmussen, who was aboard Saturday, has the mount in the Kentucky Derby. It will be a first for the rider, who is the son of fellow Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. Mystik Dan was third in the Arkansas Derby, one start after winning the Southwest. He earned 25 points and ranks 15th on the list for the Kentucky Derby with a total of 46 points. Trainer Kenny McPeek said Sunday the horse emerged from the race in good order and will be pointed to the Kentucky Derby. Mystik Dan and his rider, Brian Hernandez Jr., had an eventful trip Saturday as they were drawn into a first-turn incident that led to the disqualification of Liberal Arts from sixth to eighth. “He had a pretty rough trip,” McPeek said of Mystik Dan. “The horse that got disqualified hammered him pretty good in the middle of the first turn. I think it cost him some position and actually, the horse nearly unmounted Brian. The horse’s head hit Brian’s shoulder. “We were hoping to show a little more pace, lay a little closer to the pace. But with the way that horse hit him, he lost a bit of ground. Do we beat the winner? We’re not convinced of that. But we think we might have been second. Anyway, overall we’re proud of his race and hopeful that he [has] enough points.” McPeek said Mystik Dan would just await the Derby. He said the horse could ship to Churchill sometime this week. “Right now, I haven’t scheduled anything yet,” McPeek said. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.