Zedan Racing's 'TDN Rising Star' Muth (Good Magic), winner of the GI American Pharoah S. and runner-up in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, will take on five rivals in Saturday's seven-furlong GII San Vicente S. at Santa Anita. Regular rider Juan J. Hernandez will be aboard the 4-5 morning-line favorite.
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert will also saddle front-running Del Mar debut winner and 5-2 second-choice Pilot Commander (Justify).
Baffert is seeking his record 13th win in the San Vicente, which was previously held in early February.
“They changed the format,” Baffert said. “While I liked it better when this race was in February, I think this should be a good starting point to his season. I think the winner (Fierceness) just ran a crazy fast race (in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile). Muth ran well, he just got beat.”
This weekend's graded stakes action also includes Sunday's GIII Santa Ynez S. at Santa Anita. The rail-drawn Kopion (Omaha Beach), a sharp debut winner for trainer Richard Mandella at Del Mar in late November, is the 3-5 morning-line favorite.
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