Zedan Racing’s MUTH returned to the races in a big way on Sunday with a two-length win in the Shared Belief Stakes at Del Mar.

The colt broke quickly in the one-mile dirt race and took a brief lead before ceding to an eager runner and settling in second behind that one. MUTH never let the leader get far away, racing just about a length behind him for the first half. As they raced toward the far turn, MUTH added on pressure as he started to make his challenge.

MUTH slid past the leader at the quarter pole but had to work hard to keep that lead. Another Baffert trainee pushed him until the final sixteenth, when MUTH found another gear and left the runner behind to win by two lengths.

“That was a really tough race,” trainer Bob Baffert said. “There were some good 3-year-olds. It was like a Grade 2 race. There are no easy spots down here at Del Mar. All of them are going to be tough.”

The victory takes MUTH to five wins and two seconds in seven starts for $1,579,100 in earnings.

A $2 million 2-year-old purchase for Zedan Racing, the best is yet to come for MUTH. Baffert said the California Crown (G1) is next on his calendar on September 28 as a prep for the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).

MUTH already has two Grade 1 wins to his name, winning the American Pharoah S. (G1) as a juvenile last year before a two length Arkansas Derby (G1) victory in March.