Muth (horse)

Last updated

Muth
Sire Good Magic
Grandsire Curlin
DamHoppa
Damsire Uncle Mo
Sexcolt
FoaledApril 28, 2021 [1]
CountryUnited States
Color Bay
BreederDon Alberto Corporation
Owner Zedan Racing Stables
Trainer Bob Baffert
Record6: 4 - 2 - 0
Earnings$1,504,100 [2]
Major wins
American Pharoah Stakes (2023)
San Vicente Stakes (2024)
Arkansas Derby (2024)
Last updated on April 1, 2024

Muth (foaled April 28, 2021) is a multiple Grade I winning American Thoroughbred racehorse. In 2023, the two-year-old colt won the Grade I American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita Park. In 2024, he won the Grade I Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park.

Contents

Background

Muth is a bay colt who was bred by the Don Alberto Corporation, out of the winning Uncle Mo mare Hoppa. Muth is the mare's first foal. Muth was first sold in 2022 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale as part of the Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency consignment for US$190,000 to the Bishop Bloodstock. The following year Muth was auctioned at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's 2023 March Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training for US$2 million to Amr Zedan and his Zedan Racing Stables. [3]

Muth was named after Aaron Muth, a long time friend and enthusiastic supporter of trainer Bob Baffert and his stable. When it came to naming the horse after owner Amr Zedan purchased him, Baffert asked if the horse could be named after his longtime supporter and Zedan agreed. [3]

Racing career

2023: two-year-old season

Muth won his debut race in June 2023 as a two-year-old at Santa Anita Park, beating five others in the five-furlong sprint by 8+34 lengths. [4] He then competed in the Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar Racetrack in August, where he finished second after being bumped at the start. [5] Muth returned to Santa Anita in the fall to win the American Pharoah Stakes, [6] before finishing his two-year-old season with a second place finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

2024: three-year-old season

Muth's first race of 2024 as a three-year-old came in the San Vicente Stakes, which he won to give his trainer Bob Baffert his 13th win in the race. [7] Muth was then shipped to Oaklawn Park to compete in their signature race, the Arkansas Derby. Sent off as the second choice, Muth put away favored Timberlake near the far turn and maintained his lead to the finish, winning by two lengths. [8]

Following Muth's win in Arkansas, Baffert said that the horse would race next in the Preakness Stakes, the second jewel of thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown. [9] Muth is not eligible to compete in the 2024 Kentucky Derby after Churchill Downs extended a ban on Baffert entering horses at its tracks following the positive drug test and subsequent disqualification of 2021 Derby winner Medina Spirit. [10] Legal challenges by Zedan to lift Churchill's ban on Baffert were dismissed by both the Jefferson County Circuit Court and the Kentucky Court of Appeals. [11] [12] Had Muth been eligible, he would have had enough Road to the Kentucky Derby points to compete. [11]

Muth was drawn into the Preakness, but about 12 hours after his arrival at Pimlico it was announced by track officials that he had developed a 103-degree fever and would scratch from the race. [13]

Statistics

DateDistanceRaceGradeTrackOddsFieldFinishWinning
Time
Winning
(Losing)
Margin
JockeyRef
2023 Two-year-old season
Jun 18, 2023 Santa Anita 610:57.29Juan J. Hernandez [4]
Aug 13, 2023 Best Pal Stakes Del Mar 521:09.19Juan J. Hernandez [5]
Oct 7, 2023 American Pharoah Stakes Santa Anita 811:42.45Juan J. Hernandez [14]
Nov 3, 2023 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Santa Anita 921:41.90Juan J. Hernandez [15]
2024 Three-year-old season
Jan 6, 2024 San Vicente Stakes Santa Anita 611:23.01Juan J. Hernandez [16]
Mar 30, 2024 Arkansas Derby Oaklawn Park 1011:49.54Juan J. Hernandez [17]

Notes:
An (*) asterisk after the odds means Timberlake was the post-time favorite.

    Pedigree

    Pedigree of Muth (USA), bay colt, April 28, 2021 [1]
    Sire
    Good Magic
    (2015)
    Curlin
    (2004)
    Smart Strike (CAN)
    (1992)
    Mr. Prospector (1970)
    Classy 'n Smart (CAN) (1981)
    Sheriff's Deputy
    (1994)
    Deputy Minister (CAN) (1979)
    Barbarika (1985)
    Glinda the Good
    (2009)
    Hard Spun
    (2004)
    Danzig (1977)
    Turkish Tryst (1991)
    Magical Flash
    (1990)
    Miswaki (1978)
    Gil's Magic (1983)
    Dam
    Hoppa
    (2016)
    Uncle Mo
    (2008)
    Indian Charlie
    (1995)
    In Excess (IRE) (1987)
    Soviet Sojourn (1989)
    Playa Maya
    (2000)
    Arch (1995)
    Dixie Slippers (1995)
    Handoverthecat
    (2010)
    Tale of the Cat
    (1994)
    Storm Cat (1983)
    Yarn (1987)
    Frayne
    (1999)
    Red Ransom (1987)
    Beautiful Bedouin (1984) [18]

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    References

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    2. "Profile of Muth". Equibase. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
    3. 1 2 Gantz, Tracy (April 1, 2024). "Muth Leads Baffert 1-2 Finish in American Pharoah; Muth drew away from his front-running stablemate Wine Me Up in late stretch". Bloodhorse.com. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
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    5. 1 2 "2023 Best Pal Stakes Grade 3 - (race 4)". www.equibase.com. August 13, 2023. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
    6. Andersen, Steve (October 8, 2023). "Muth makes his expensive purchase price look good in American Pharoah Stakes". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
    7. Andersen, Steve (January 7, 2024). "Muth shows he belongs in Eclipse picture with San Vicente". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
    8. King, Byron (March 30, 2024). "Muth an Easy Winner Over Just Steel in Arkansas Derby". The Blood-Horse. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
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    10. Whyno, Stephen (July 3, 2023). "Churchill Downs extends trainer Bob Baffert's ban through 2024". Associated Press. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
    11. 1 2 "Judge denies request for Bob Baffert-trained Arkansas Derby winner Muth to run in Kentucky Derby". Associated Press. April 18, 2024. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
    12. Downey, Dick (April 24, 2024). "Court of Appeals Denies Zedan Emergency Motion". The Blood-Horse. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
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