MUTH (Good Magic – Hoppa by Uncle Mo), owned by Zedan Racing and trained by Bob Baffert, defeated Timberlake and emerged as the victor in the $1.5 million Arkansas Derby with a two-length lead over Just Steel, trained by D. Wayne Lukas.
The winner of the Southwest Stakes (G3), Mystik Dan, finished in third place, trailing by 4 1/4 lengths. The heavily favoured Timberlake came in fourth, while the underdog Informed Patriot secured fifth place.
The Arkansas Derby carried a value of 100 points for qualification in the esteemed Kentucky Derby. However, it is unfortunate that for the third consecutive year, Churchill Downs has prohibited horses trained by Baffert from participating. He was suspended after Medina Spirit's disqualification from his 2021 Kentucky Derby win due to testing positive for betamethasone after the race.
"He escaped and found himself in a favourable position," Baffert remarked. The course - --velocity didn't quite favour him today - but he found himself in a favourable position there. As I glanced towards the rear, I noticed Timberlake making a stealthy move, and I couldn't help but wonder if he would seize control of the race from that position, considering he seemed like the top contender. However, Muth is simply exceptional. The only horse that managed to surpass him was Fierceness, and we witnessed the remarkable performance he delivered today. It's an incredibly esteemed competition, achieving victory in that. We have strong sentiments towards Oaklawn.
Muth was acquired for a substantial sum as a 2-year-old in training, with a previous purchase as a yearling from Keeneland in September. The colt's dam, Hoppa, was raced by Don Alberto Corporation, who bred him. Hoppa emerged victorious in one out of three races and is one of only two offspring from Muth's second dam, Handoverthecatm, who herself achieved victory on two occasions.
This marks the debut of Hoppa's offspring
Jockey Juan Hernandez on Muth: "I had a fantastic journey." My horse started the race well. He excels right from the start. He's swift. My strategy was to maintain some distance, ensuring he had his own space. This is because, on occasions, his behaviour becomes highly combative when in close proximity to other horses. At times, he has the urge to start running prematurely. I excelled, and then I remained outdoors. He unwound exceptionally well. I spotted a pair of equines indoors vying for the top position. I replied with approval: 'Sure, proceed.' My horse felt incredibly at ease on the rear end... At approximately the three-eighths mark, I requested that he retrieve it, and he promptly replied. As we approached the quarter pole, I urged him to give his all, and he demonstrated an abundance of skill. He departed once more.
Trainer Wayne Lukas expresses his enthusiasm for Just Steel but also expresses his disappointment at the absence of Bob. He has exceptional horses. He has horses competing in the Derby, but he is currently facing numerous unexpected challenges. However, altering that is not within our control. I had complete faith in my horse. I was explaining to someone else that when there's a touch of genius present, once you spot it, you have the opportunity to delve deep and uncover it. If they lack that exceptional talent, then you're simply being unrealistic by bringing these horses over and hoping for the best. However, he possesses some potential, and now we need to determine if we can tap into it.
Kenny McPeek discusses Mystik Dan: "He encountered some resistance in the initial bend from the five horses (Liberal Arts). However, coming in third is a commendable achievement. I had high hopes for his victory, but these endeavours are far from simple.
Brian Hernandez, Jr. on Mystik Dan: "We circled the initial bend and received a significant blow from (Liberal Arts)." It was pretty challenging and, unfortunately, impacted our ranking. However, our horse certainly deserves your pride. He performed admirably, and securing third place was significant.
Flavien Prat discussing Timberlake: "We had a favourable position, and as we approached the first turn, the pace noticeably decreased." He became pretty assertive towards me, so I allowed him to freely move around in order to calm him down, which he successfully did on the backside. Feels lacking towards the conclusion.