Santa Anita: Baffert seeks 13th San Vicente victory with Muth

Second to America’s top-rated Kentucky Derby hopeful in his most recent start, Bob Baffert-trained Muth cuts back in distance from two consecutive routes as he heads a group of six sophomores going seven furlongs in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita.

A winner of the American Pharoah (G1) over the same main track Oct. 7 and subsequently second, beaten by 6 1/4 lengths by Todd Pletcher’s presumptive 2-year-old male champion Fierceness going 1 1/16 miles in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Muth seeks to give Baffert his record 13th San Vicente win.

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Juan Hernández was named to ride Muth for Baffert, who seeks his second San Vicente win in a row with Santa Anita’s leading rider and his fourth San Vicente victory in the last five years.

A $2 million Ocala Breeders Sales purchase from the 2-year-olds-in-training sale in March, the Good Magic colt was off at 1-5 in his five-furlong debut four starts back on June 18 at Santa Anita. That was a race in which he demolished his competition by 8 3/4 lengths.

Off at 1-2 going six panels in the Best Pal (G3) on Aug. 13 at Del Mar, he finished second to stablemate and eventual Del Mar Futurity (G1) winner Prince of Monaco. In his first try around two turns, Muth was 1-2 again, and he cruised to a 3 3/4-length win in the American Pharoah.

Owned by Zedan Racing Stables, Muth has earnings of $596,600 and no doubt will be a short-priced favorite with Hernández, who seeks his third San Vicente win in a row. He also took the 2022 edition with Richard Mandella’s Forbidden Kingdom.

Trainer Tim Yakteen’s Moonlit Sonata, who was away slowly vs. nine rival maidens in his 6 1/2-furlong debut Nov. 25 at Del Mar, is a colt by Malibu Moon who would appear to have considerable upside in what will be his second start.

Away slowly in his debut, Moonlit Sonata, who will be ridden back by Geovanni Franco, was into contention while well within himself around the far turn and finished up like a colt who could improve considerably in his next out. A $75,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase in 2022, Moonlit Sonata was dismissed at 33-1 and earned a 75 Beyer Speed Figure, according to Daily Racing Form. He is owned by Soma Racing Stables.

Baffert also entered first-out maiden winner Pilot Commander, who, like Moonlit Sonata, earned a 75 Beyer. A $700,000 OBS March 2-year-olds-in-training-sale graduate, Pilot Commander is by 2018 Triple Crown champion Justify. He led from gate to wire in taking his six-furlong debut Nov. 11 at Del Mar by 2 1/4 lengths.

Off at 6-5 vs. five rivals, Pilot Commander, who is owned by CSLR Racing Partners, was ridden by Hernández but will get the services of Flavien Prat, who seeks his first San Vicente score Saturday.

The first post time for a nine-race card Saturday is 3 p.m. EST. The San Vicente is the eighth race, which will start after 6:30 p.m. EST.