Zedan Racing Stables Inc.’s Muth, the likely favorite for Saturday’s $2 million Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course, and SF Racing LLC and partners’ Imagination will begin their long day of travel early Tuesday morning from California.
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Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said Sunday that plans call for the two colts to leave their Santa Anita barn between 1 and 2 a.m. (PST). The cross-country flight, Baffert said, follows around 5 a.m.
“It is a long day,” Baffert said. “Hopefully, they’ll get (to Pimlico) in the afternoon.”
Baffert said he is scheduled to fly to Baltimore Thursday, arriving in the late afternoon.
Muth and Imagination both jogged at Santa Anita Sunday after working in tandem Friday.
“They are both doing well,” Baffert said. “I liked the way they breezed; they were a good team. I am happy the way they are coming into this.”
Muth was last seen winning the Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park on March 30, beating Just Steel and Mystik Dan to the wire. Mystik Dan, the Kentucky Derby (G1) winner, was third in the Arkansas Derby, 6 ¼ lengths behind Muth. Just Steel, who was 17th in the Run for the Roses, was beaten two lengths in the Arkansas Derby by Muth.
Muth will face both horses in the Preakness, a race Baffert has won a record eight times, the most recent being last year with National Treasure.
Imagination had never been worse than second in six career races. When last seen, he was second, beaten a neck by Stronghold in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) April 6.
“It’s going to be a very competitive race,” Baffert said of the Preakness. “I am really looking forward to it.”
