Muth stamped himself as one of the nation’s leading 3-year-olds with a victory in the 88th running of the $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park on Saturday, March 30.
Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Muth pressed the issue early and down the backstretch of the 1 1/8-mile fixture. Turning for home, he put the pacesetters away and kicked well clear under steady handling. He crossed the wire two lengths ahead of runner-up Just Steel, stopping the clock in 1:49.54.
With the Win, Muth improved his record to 6-4-2-0. The $787,500 winner’s share of the purse increased his earnings total to $1,504,100. Owned by Zedan Racing Stables, the son of Good Magic is trained by Bob Baffert, who now owns five victories in Oaklawn’s premier event. The Arkansas Derby score was the second Grade 1 win for Muth, who also annexed last year’s American Pharoah Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita at two.
“Around the quarter pole, I asked my horse, and he took off again,” Juan Hernandez told FanDuel TV. “He took off like he was breaking again out of the gate.”
Muth was bred in Kentucky by Don Alberto Corporation out of the Uncle Mo mare Hoppa. He was a $2 million acquisition out of the Top Line Sales consignment at last year’s OBS March Sale. Last fall, Muth finished second to subsequent Eclipse Champion Juvenile Fierceness in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1). Muth is unable to compete in this year’s Kentucky Derby (G1). The Preakness Stakes (G1) on May 18, is a possible next target for the Baffert charge.