Muth, Baffert Denied Participation in This Year's Kentucky Derby

A Kentucky judge on Thursday denied a request by the owner of Bob Baffert-trained Arkansas Derby winner Muth for the colt to run in next month's 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.

On Wednesday April 3, Zedan Racing Stables, filed a lawsuit against Churchill Downs ahead of the Kentucky Derby that aimed to secure a temporary injunction that will allow Arkansas Derby champion, Muth, to run in the first leg of the Triple Crown.

Jefferson County Circuit Judge Mitch Perry declined Thursday to grant a temporary injunction to Zedan Racing Stables.

Muth is trained by Bob Baffert, who is banned from entering any horse in Churchill Downs races through at least July 2024.

BetOnline had been offering a prop bet that asked if any Baffert-trained horse would run in the 2024 Kentucky Derby. The odds for "YES" were 10/1, which equated to about a 9% chance.

Oddsmakers at the sportsbook said that Muth would be "one of the fancied runners" if somehow the court sided with Zedan Racing and allowed the colt to run.

"Arkansas Derby victors have great history at Churchill Downs, and in this case, Muth would definitely be one of the favorites," Robert Cooper, SportsBetting.ag Racebook Director, said. "We'd price him at 7/2 or 4/1 if he somehow ended up in one of those gates come May 4."

We should caution that only three horses have won the Arkansas Derby and then gone on to win the Kentucky Derby.

In his ruling, Perry expressed concern about "innocent third parties" having to remove eligible horses from the Derby on May 4 to accommodate the horse trained by the Hall of Famer, whose suspension by Churchill Downs was extended through 2024.

Eric Andrus, a spokesman for ZRS, said an emergency appeal would be filed "as soon as possible."

"The goal of our effort remains to ensure our horse Muth will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to compete in the 150th Run for the Roses on May 4th," Andrus said.

Below are the most current Derby odds.

2024 Kentucky Derby         

All odds courtesy of BetOnlne and subject to change     

Rot     To Win The 2024 Kentucky Derby     Moneyline
1     Fierceness         +275
3     Track Phantom         +2200
4     Dornoch         +2000
5     Sierra Leone         +300
6     Hades         +3800
7     Mystik Dan         +2500
11     Epic Ride         +3300
13     Catching Freedom         +1000
15     Honor Marie         +2500
17     Domestic Product         +2500
19     Just Steel         +2500
20     Resilience         +2000
29     Stronghold         +1400
30     Just A Touch         +1600
31     Deterministic         +3300
34     Forever Young         +800
38     Encino         +2000
43     Endlessly         +2000
49     Common Defense         +5000
50     West Saratoga         +5000
51     T O Password         +2500
52     Catalytic         +5000
53     Society Man         +4500
54     Grand Mo The First         +7000

- Ean Lamb, Gambling911.com