Baffert points Muth to Arkansas, Maymun to Santa Anita Derby

Two-time graded-stakes winner Muth will be shipped to race next Saturday in the Grade 1, $1.5 million Arkansas Derby, and his undefeated stablemate Maymun will go April 6 in the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby (G1), trainer Bob Baffert confirmed Friday afternoon.

The decision to send Muth to Oaklawn was reported first Friday by Daily Racing Form’s Steve Andersen after the 3-year-old Good Magic colt worked a bullet at Santa Anita, going six furlongs in 1:12.4.

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Maymun had been considered a possibility for either the Arkansas or Santa Anita derby, and Baffert confirmed his choice in a text message to Horse Racing Nation.

Both Maymun and Muth are owned by Amr Zedan in the name of his Zedan Racing Stables.

A $2 million colt, Muth has not raced since he won the San Vicente (G2) on Jan. 6 at Santa Anita. According to DRF, Baffert had considered sending Muth to Oaklawn for the Feb. 24 Rebel (G2) before what he thought was a substandard workout six days before.

Ridden in all five of his races by Juan Hernández, Muth won his debut June 18 at Santa Anita, finished a distant second to stablemate Prince of Monaco in the Best Pal (G3) on Aug. 13 at Del Mar, won the American Pharoah (G1) on Oct. 7 at Santa Anita and was 6 1/4 lengths behind Fierceness when he finished second Nov. 3 in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, also at Santa Anita.

Timberlake, who won the Rebel, was committed to the Arkansas Derby by trainer Brad Cox. Mystik Dan and Liberal Arts, first and third, respectively, in the Southwest (G3), were among those candidates listed as probable in the Horse Racing Nation Stakes Tracker.

Maymun, a $900,000 colt by Frosted, has raced only twice, both times this year at Santa Anita. He won his debut by 7 1/2 lengths going 6 1/2 furlongs Jan. 20, and then he outdueled stablemate Imagination to win by a neck Feb. 11 in a one-mile allowance race.

The Arkansas Derby and Santa Anita Derby are worth 100-50-25-15-10 Kentucky Derby 2024 qualifying points each to the top five finishers, provided they are eligible. Because Baffert is still under an indefinite suspension at Churchill Downs, any points earned by Muth and Maymun will be vacated.

Both horses may be candidates to race in the Preakness Stakes on May 18.