BC qualifier: Muth leads field of 8 in American Pharoah

Freshened since beaten in his second start, Muth is the horse to beat as he stretches out to 1 1/16 miles in Saturday’s Grade 1, $300,000 American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita. Named for the 2015 Triple Crown winner, the American Pharaoh attracted a field of eight juveniles.

A Breeders’ Cup win-and-you’re-in qualifier, the American Pharoah winner will earn a fees-paid berth into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita on Nov. 4.

Owned by Zedan Racing and trained by Bob Baffert, Muth, a $2 million 2-year-old in training sale purchase in March, was a runaway 8 1/4-length winner of his five-furlong maiden debut here on June 18. Subsequently second to his eventual Grade 1 stakes-winning stablemate Prince of Monaco going six furlongs in the Best Pal (G3) on Aug. 13, Muth sat out the Del Mar Futurity (G1) on Sept. 10 and should be very tough with leading man Juan Hernandez back aboard on Saturday.

Odds-on in both of his races to date, Muth is out of the Uncle Mo mare Hoppa.

Todd Pletcher will be represented in the American Pharoah by Repole Stable’s Be You, a colt by Curlin who ships in from Saratoga Springs. Second, beaten a nose as the 3-2 favorite in his six-furlong debut Aug. 5 at Saratoga, Be You checked in fourth, beaten 4 1/4 lengths in the seven-furlong Hopeful (G1) at 5-2 on Sept. 4 and will try two turns for the first time.

A $320,000 Keeneland September yearling, Be You is out of the Congrats mare Jacaranda and will be ridden for the first time by Umberto Rispoli.

A first-out maiden winner going six furlongs on Sept. 2 at Del Mar, Wine Me Up will assume the role of the “other Baffert” for owners Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman. A $300,000 March 2-year-old in training purchase, he’s one of several who figure to ensure a fast pace on Saturday.

By Vino Rosso out of the Kitten’s Joy mare Deanaallen’skitten, Wine Me Up will be ridden for the first time by Ramon Vazquez.