2023 American Pharoah Stakes Preview & FREE Picks | Baffert Sends Muth, Wine Me Up To Juvenile Prep

Aaron previews the 2023 American Pharoah Stakes (G1) from Santa Anita Park, then gives his top picks & long shots from this “Win & You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

Trainer Bob Baffert sends out Muth & Wine Me Up as he seeks to win his record 12th edition of this major prep for the World Championships. Tell us YOUR thoughts in the Comments section!

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The press release:

                Freshened since beaten in his second start, Zedan Racing’s Muth is the horse to beat as he stretches out to a mile and one sixteenth in Saturday’s Grade I, $300,000 American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita. 

                Named for the 2015 Triple Crown winner, the American Pharaoh has attracted a field of eight juveniles.

                A Breeders’ Cup “Win & You’re In” Challenge Race Qualifier, the American Pharoah winner will earn a fees-paid berth into the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita on Nov. 4.

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                Trained by Bob Baffert, Muth, a $2 million 2-year-old in training sale purchase this past March, was a runaway 8 ¼ length winner of his five furlong maiden debut here on June 18. 

                Subsequently second to his eventual Grade I stakes-winning stablemate Prince of Monaco going six furlongs in the Grade III Best Pal Stakes Aug. 13, Muth sat out the Grade I Del Mar Futurity Sept. 10 and should be extremely tough with leading man Juan Hernandez back aboard on Saturday.

                Odds-on in both of his races to date, Muth is out of the Uncle Mo mare Hoppa.

                A first-out maiden winner going six furlongs on Sept. 2 at Del Mar, Wine Me Up will assume the role of the “other Baffert” for owners Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman. 

                A $300,000 March 2-year-old in training purchase, he’s one of several that figure to ensure a fast pace on Saturday.

                By Vino Rosso out of the Kitten’s Joy mare Deanaallen’skitten, Wine Me Up will be ridden for the first time by Ramon Vazquez.

                Todd Pletcher will be represented in the American Pharoah by Repole Stable’s Be You, a colt by Curlin who ships in from Saratoga Springs. 

                Second, beaten a nose as the 3-2 favorite in his six furlong debut Aug. 5 at Saratoga, Be You checked in fourth, beaten 4 ¼ lengths in the Grade I, seven furlong Hopeful at 5-2 on Sept. 4 and will also be two-turning for the first time.

                A $320,000 Keeneland September Yearling, Be You is out of the Congrats mare Jacaranda and will be ridden for the first time by Umberto Rispoli.

THE GRADE I AMERICAN PHAROAH WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 9 of 10 Approximate post time 5 p.m. PT

1. Rothschild – Mike Smith – 122
2. Muth – Juan Hernandez – 122
3. Next Level – Kent Desormeaux – 122
4. Wine Me Up – Ramon Vazquez – 122
5. Raging Torrent – Antonio Fresu – 122
6. Be You – Umberto Rispoli – 122
7. Indispensable – Geovanni Franco – 122
8. El Magnifico – Hector Berrios – 122

                First post time for a 10-race card that will include three other stakes on Saturday is at 1 p.m.  Admission gates open at 11 a.m.