Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Muth breezes five furlongs in anticipation of Preakness
ARCADIA, Calif. – Muth, a powerful winner of the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby on March 30 at Oaklawn Park, and Imagination, second by a neck in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 6, worked Sunday at Santa Anita in advance of expected starts in the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes on May 18 at Pimlico for trainer Bob Baffert.
Muth worked five furlongs in 1:00.20, while Imagination went a half-mile in 48 seconds.
Muth is the subject of legal action in Kentucky by owner Amr Zedan in an effort to gain a temporary injunction against a ban placed against Baffert by Churchill Downs disallowing his horses from starting in the Kentucky Derby on May 4.
Zedan is seeking court relief that will allow the colt to participate.
Last week, a Kentucky court ruled against Zedan’s request for a temporary injunction, stating that Zedan did not suffer “irreparable harm” when he left the colt with Baffert even though the racetrack had stated Baffert would not be allowed to have starters in the Kentucky Derby.
Zedan has appealed the decision to the Kentucky Court of Appeals. Churchill Downs banned Baffert for two years after Medina Spirit finished first in the 2021 Kentucky Derby but tested positive for a regulated medication. The ban was extended for a year by Churchill Downs officials last year to include this year’s Kentucky Derby.
Baffert has won the Preakness Stakes a record eight times, including last May with National Treasure.
Baffert older horses in the mix
Several hours apart on Saturday, wellaccomplished 4-year-olds trained by Baffert were in action at Santa Anita. One is being prepared for a highly anticipated campaign in the second half of 2024, while the other is attempting to establish a meaningful role in the older male division.
On Saturday morning, Arabian Knight, winner of the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar last September but unraced since a fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita in November, worked a half-mile in 50 seconds, his second workout of the year.
A winner of 3 of 5 starts who has earned $1,544,275 for Zedan, Arabian Knight is expected to have a late spring or early summer return.
“He’s got a ways to go,” Baffert said Sunday.
On Saturday afternoon, Mr Fisk won his third stakes for owner Kyle Brookshire and Baffert in the Grade 3 Californian Stakes at 1 1/8 miles, a prep for the Grade 2 Hollywood Gold Cup at 1 1/4 miles on May 27.
Mr Fisk won two stakes at Del Mar last September and November, including the Grade 3 Native Diver Stakes at 1 1/8 miles against older horses, but was a disappointing fifth in the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes at Santa Anita in January in his only previous start this year.
“We’ve always been high on the horse,” Baffert said. “He had a bad race last time. We got his mind right. A lot of it is mental with him.”
The $200,000 Gold Cup is the leading race for older horses in the spring portion of Santa Anita’s six-month meeting that runs through June 16. Baffert said in the winner’s circle on Saturday that the Gold Cup is a next-race goal for Mr Fisk.
Baffert has a deep bench of 4-year-olds, including National Treasure and Newgate, Grade 1 winners this year who are expected to be important runners in major stakes later this year.
National Treasure has resumed training after finishing fourth in the $20 million Saudi Cup in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 24. National Treasure, who worked a half-mile in 49.40 seconds on April 12, won the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 27, a $3 million race at 1 1/8 miles.
Newgate won the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap on March 3, but disappointed when ninth of 12 in the $12 million Dubai World Cup in the United Arab Emirates on March 30.
Ball Don’t Lie heading to New York
Ball Don’t Lie, winner of a six-furlong maiden race in his second start on April 6 at Santa Anita, is scheduled to be shipped to New York to continue his career this spring, trainer Mark Glatt said Sunday.
Ball Don’t Lie, a colt by Blame, was bred in New York and will race in the statebred division on that circuit.
Owned by the partnership of Muir Hut Stable and Saints and Sinners, Ball Don’t Lie disputed the pace throughout the April 6 race before winning by 1 1/2 lengths. He was timed in 1:08.79 and earned an attractive Beyer Speed Figure of 97.
Ball Don’t Lie was ridden by Frankie Dettori, one of six consecutive winners the famous jockey rode April 6.
Ball Don’t Lie, who will be trained by Rob Atras, will be considered for the $125,000 Mike Lee Stakes at seven furlongs during the Belmont Stakes Festival at Saratoga on June 9.