Muth scoring the American Pharoah at Santa Anita. (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
David Joseph/Maryland Jockey Club/Edited
BALTIMORE, Md. – Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said Tuesday morning that his Preakness (G1) candidates, MuthandImagination, will breeze at Santa Anita Park this weekend and ship to Baltimore Tuesday, May 14.
The colts worked in tandem May 4 at Santa Anita, covering six furlongs in 1:11.40, the fastest time at the distance that morning.
Baffert, 71, is seeking his record-extending ninth victory in the Preakness. He earned his first Preakness win in 1997 with Silver Charm and secured the eighth last year with National Treasure.
Muth, owned by Zedan Racing Stables, won the Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park in his most recent start March 30. The son of Good Magic was purchased for $2 million as a 2-year-old at the 2023 OBS March sale. He has four wins – two of them in Grade 1 races – and two seconds in six starts and has earned $1,504,100 in purse money.
Jockey Juan Hernandez, who has been aboard Muth in each of his starts, will ride the colt in the Preakness, said Baffert.
Frankie Dettori aboard Imagination (#5) in a San Felipe thriller. (Ernie Belmonte/Past the Wire)
Imagination was second by a neck to Stronghold in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) April 6 and has breezed three times since. He picked up his first stakes victory in the San Felipe (G2) March 3. The partnership of SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Dianne Bashor, Robert Masterson, Waves Edge Capital LLC, Catherine Donovan and Tom Ryan purchased Imagination for $1,050,000 as a yearling at Keeneland in 2022. The Into Mischief colt has a record of 2-4-0 in six starts and earnings of $406,800.
Jockey Frankie Dettori has ridden Imagination in his last two starts and Baffert said Dettori will be back aboard for what will the international standout’s first appearance in the Preakness.
Join the Coach at the Alibi Breakfast Thursday, May 16 to ‘Boast, Toast and Roast!’
The Alibi Breakfast features an annual gathering of horsemen and media to celebrate the Preakness and to solicit interesting race predications. It has also become an opportunity for the Maryland Jockey Club to recognize those who have made significant contributions to the racing industry. Click for tickets.
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