Muth gears up for fall campaign in Shared Belief

Trainer Bob Baffert has three of the seven three-year-olds in Sunday's $125,000 Shared Belief S. at Del Mar over one mile, but to be frank, most eyes will solely be on Muth.

Last seen winning the Arkansas Derby (G1) in late March when he defeated eventual Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mystik Dan by more than six lengths, Muth has often given the impression of being one of the best of his generation. His record shows four wins and two seconds from six starts, including victories in the American Pharoah (G1) and San Vicente (G2) prior to the Arkansas Derby. He was also Fierceness' closest pursuer in the champion's lopsided win in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) last fall.

Ineligible himself for the Kentucky Derby this year, Muth was subsequently entered in the Preakness (G1) but was forced to scratch after spiking a fever en route to Baltimore.

Muth has been a consistent presence on the worktab since late June, and the Shared Belief is reportedly a stepping stone toward either the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) or California Crown (G1) against older runners. The Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) would then be a logical target, should his form warrant it.

Baffert's other two runners, Imagination and Wynstock, are less consistent. Imagination won the San Felipe (G2) in March by a head and then missed in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) by a neck. However, he's finished far up the track in his past two starts, including the Preakness. Wynstock, meanwhile, posted narrow victories in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) and Los Alamitos Derby, but has struggled in other stakes appearances.

The nominal feature on Sunday is the $300,000 Del Mar Derby (G2) over nine furlongs on the turf. Stay Hot has won his last four stakes appearances in Southern California, including a 1 1/2-length decision in the La Jolla H. earlier in the meet over the lightly raced Atitlan. Also entered is Formidable Man, hero of the restricted Oceanside S. on opening day over Guy Named Joe, and the California-bred stakes winner Curlin's Kaos, who has a 2-for-4 record on the grass.