Last fall, Fierceness and Muth showed the world they were elite 2-year-olds with a 1-2 finish in the Nov. 3 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita Park. Nearly five months later, in different parts of the country March 30, they illustrated they continue to be just as special as 3-year-olds.
First, Fierceness romped in Saturday afternoon’s $1 million Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park, and about an hour later, it was Muth’s turn to shine, winning the $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park by two lengths over Just Steel .
But while Fierceness will head this spring to Churchill Downs as the likely favorite for the May 4 Kentucky Derby (G1), Muth will not, owing to Churchill Downs Inc.’s extended ban of his trainer, Bob Baffert, from competition at its tracks related to the disqualification of Zedan Racing Stables’ Medina Spirit in the 2021 Run for the Roses.
Instead, a race like the May 18 Preakness Stakes (G1), the second leg of the Triple Crown at Pimlico Race Course, where Baffert remains eligible to compete, could fall into Muth’s eventual plans.
Muth ran Saturday like one of the country’s best, putting away backstretch leader Timberlake on the second turn and maintaining a comfortable advantage over runner-up Just Steel down the stretch. The winner sped 1 1/8 miles on a fast track in 1:49.54, returning $6.60 to win.
His time was slightly faster than Angel Of Empire ‘s clocking of 1:49.68 last year. Angel of Empire would run third in the Kentucky Derby.
Baffert won the Arkansas Derby for the fifth time with Muth. Juan Hernandez rode the Zedan Racing Stables-owned runner, a son of Good Magic purchased for $2 million at the Ocala Breeders’ March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training in 2023 from the Top Line Sales consignment. Bloodstock agent Donato Lanni purchased Muth there for owner Amr Zedan of Zedan Racing Stables.
We are so proud of Muth he showed everyone how special he really is. Added another GR1 win to his resume with the Arkansas Derby @OaklawnRacing Congratulations to all his connections! @ZedanRacing Team Bob Baffert, @JJHernandezS19 @HillnDaleFarm son of Good Magic, @OBSSales 2yr… pic.twitter.com/KeJP0R2pcW
— Top Line Sales (@TopLineTBs) March 31, 2024
Four and a quarter lengths behind the runner-up, Mystik Dan rallied to grab third by a half-length over fourth-place Timberlake.
The latter was keen into the first turn when behind early pacesetter Time for Truth and other horses. He settled down on the backstretch upon taking the lead, setting a half-mile split in :47.46 and 1:12.26, before overhauled by Muth.
Informed Patriot was fifth, and in another notable finish, graded stakes winner Liberal Arts , who crossed the wire in sixth, was demoted to eighth for interference with rivals in the first turn and on the backstretch.
As part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby series, the Arkansas Derby awarded Kentucky Derby qualifying points to its second through fifth finishers on a 50-25-15-10 scale. The Arkansas Derby is the richest 3-year-old prep in the series.
Just Steel (65 overall points) and Timberlake (81 points) would appear in a safe position to qualify for the Kentucky Derby, which typically oversubscribes beyond its maximum field size of 20 horses.
Mystik Dan is currently 15th on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard with 46 points but is likely to be passed by other 3-year-olds after major prep races next week. However, defections and scratches inevitably occur in the lead-up to the Derby, opening up starting positions.
Seven horses from the Arkansas Derby have won the Kentucky Derby, all since 1983, including four since 2004.
Country House , third in 2019, won the Kentucky Derby via disqualification of Maximum Security for interference that May to become the latest Arkansas Derby competitor to score in the Run for the Roses, and four years before him, Baffert trainee American Pharoah took the Arkansas Derby on his way to a sweep of the Triple Crown, which ended a 37-year drought in the series.
Muth improved to 4-2-0 in six starts with his triumph in the Arkansas Derby. He earned $787,500 in the Arkansas Derby, elevating his career earnings to $1,504,100.
Saturday’s race was his second grade 1 triumph, after initially striking at the top stakes level last year in the American Pharoah Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita.
The Don Alberto Corporation-bred 3-year-old is out of the Uncle Mo mare Hoppa .
Other top progeny of sire Good Magic include Mage , the 2023 Kentucky Derby winner, and Dornoch , Mage’s full brother and this year’s Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) winner. Good Magic stands at Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms for $125,000.
This story will be updated.
#7 MUTH ($6.60) by Good Magic gets the cue to go in the stretch and goes on to easily win the $1.5M Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park. @JJhernandezS19 was in the irons for Bob Baffert. Congrats to all the connections! pic.twitter.com/yt6qMYu9Mr
— TVG (@TVG) March 31, 2024
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