Bob Baffert was “sick” with disappointment after having to scratch the hot favourite for the Preakness Stakes on Wednesday.
Arkansas Derby winner Muth was the 8-5 morning line favourite for Saturday’s second leg of the US Triple Crown at Pimlico.
He was unable to contest the Kentucky Derby due to his trainer’s ban from Churchill Downs, in place since Medina Spirit tested positive for a banned substance after winning the 2021 running of the Classic from which he was disqualified.
The colt’s owner Amr Zedan lodged a last ditch legal challenge to get the ban lifted so Muth could run but was unsuccessful.
In his absence his credentials were burnished when Mystik Dan, who had finished third to Muth, won the Kentucky Derby.
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The two were due to meet in the Preakness until Baffert announced Muth would not be running.
He revealed Muth had spiked a temperature of 103 after arriving from California, leaving him with no choice but to scratch.
“We are sick about this,” he said. “The horse has been doing really well. But we have to do what’s right by the horse.”
Baffert, who has won the Preakness a record eight times, still has another representative in the race.
Frankie Dettori rides Imagination for the Hall of Fame trainer. The Italian will be making his debut in the race on a horse he has ridden on his last two starts.
The pair won a Grade 2 race before going down by a neck in the Santa Anita Derby in April.
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