Muth Leads Baffert 1-2 Finish in American Pharoah

Aaron Muth, a longtime friend of trainer Bob Baffert and his family, is also one of the most enthusiastic supporters of Baffert's stable. "Muth is always at every Derby, every big race—he loves horse racing and is a big fan of horse racing," Baffert said. "We need more guys like Muth as fans." So when it came time to name the 2-year-old son of Good Magic, who topped this year's Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's 2023 March Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training at $2 million, Baffert asked owner Amr Zedan of Zedan Racing Stables if he could name the horse Muth. "We were thinking of names, and I said, 'Amr, there's a friend of mine who would really appreciate this.' He loves Amr. He always says that Amr's silks are the most powerful silks in racing, and when horses see them, they won't pass them. I said, 'I'd like to name this horse Muth.' Amr didn't even hesitate. He said, 'You do what you want.' Amr's just great." Horses did pass Zedan's silks in the Oct. 7 American Pharoah Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park, as Muth won by 3 3/4 lengths, earning a "Win & You're In" berth to the Nov. 3 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita. When it was time for the equine Muth to be led into the winner's circle, Baffert made sure Aaron Muth did the honors. Muth's wide grin could probably have been seen by the drone that hovers above Santa Anita to cover the races. Aaron Muth, who lives in Scottsdale, Ariz., runs a leadership foundation that gives scholarships to low-income kids. "We've been at all of his races," Muth said. "This was a great day, a perfect day—the mountains at Santa Anita on a Saturday like this. It can't get any better, a grade 1 race. It was a lot of fun." Asked if he would return for the Breeders' Cup, Muth answered, "Of course—where else would I be?" Muth's namesake put on a picture-perfect performance in the 1 1/16-mile American Pharoah. When the gate opened, Baffert's other runner, Wine Me Up, somewhat unexpectedly went to the front under Ramon Vazquez, setting early fractions of :23.30 for the first quarter-mile and :46.49 for a half-mile. Muth, under Juan Hernandez, settled into fourth alongside El Magnifico, as Raging Torrent raced about a length behind Wine Me Up. Muth moved up in the second turn to challenge Wine Me Up, and the two Baffert runners raced as a team. That did not last long, though, as Muth asserted his superiority and pulled away in 1:42.45. He paid $2.80 to win. Wine Me Up finished second, 5 1/4 lengths ahead of third-place Be You, a shipper from the Todd Pletcher barn who had run fourth in the Hopeful Stakes (G1) at Saratoga. "I knew they would run well," Baffert said. "I thought the 4 (Wine Me Up) would be laying off of Muth. Vazquez said he just left there running. Juan just took back a little bit, and it looked like the horse handled it well and relaxed. When you get a young horse to do that, it's pretty important." Baffert continued his domination of the American Pharoah Stakes, which was renamed for the horse he trained to win the 2015 Triple Crown. American Pharoah captured what was then called the FrontRunner Stakes in 2014. Baffert has now won the race, which began as the Norfolk Stakes, a record 12 times. His string dates back to Souvenir Copy in 1997. The race has been called the American Pharoah since 2018, and of those six runnings, Baffert has won it five times, including with Corniche in 2021 and the late Cave Rock in 2022. Hernandez also rode Cave Rock, and he had high praise for Muth. "I think this is the best horse I've ever ridden so far," the jockey said. "I mean, Cave Rock was one of the best, but this one is pretty close." If all goes well, Muth will compete next in the Juvenile, as will the Baffert-trained Prince of Monaco, who is 3-for-3 and won the Del Mar Futurity (G1) and Best Pal Stakes (G3) at Del Mar. Baffert said Wine Me Up may also get a shot at the Breeders' Cup. Muth now has two wins and a second. In his first race June 18 at Santa Anita, Muth won by 8 3/4 lengths. He then finished second to Prince of Monaco in the Best Pal. The Don Alberto Corporation bred Muth out of the winning Uncle Mo mare Hoppa. Muth is the mare's first foal, and her 2022 filly by Violence sold for $385,000 at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Prior to the OBS auction, Muth went through the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale as part of the Hill 'n' Dale Sales Agency consignment, bringing $190,000 from Bishop Bloodstock. Top Line Sales sold him at OBS, where Donato Lanni purchased him as agent. Muth is from the second crop of the stallion Good Magic, who in his first crop sired Mage, the winner of this year's Kentucky Derby (G1). Good Magic has also sired 2023 graded stakes winners How Did He Do That and Reincarnate. The stallion stood for a 2023 stud fee of $50,000 at Hill 'n' Dale Farms near Paris, Ky.