2023 American Pharoah Stakes odds, horses, field: Well connected reporter offers best bets for Saturday's race

The Bob Baffert-trained Muth will try to establish himself as one of the leading candidates for next month's Breeders' Cup Juvenile when he leaves the starting gate in the 2023 American Pharoah Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif. A 2-year-old son of Good Magic, Muth has one win and one second in two career starts. He has been installed as the even-money favorite in the American Pharoah Stakes odds. Next Level and Be You are the co-second choices in the eight-horse field, at 4-1. Post time is 8:11 p.m. ET. 

With several accomplished horses set to enter the starting gate on Saturday, you'll want to see what red-hot racing reporter and analyst Michelle Yu has to say before making any American Pharoah Stakes picks. Join SportsLine here to see whom she's picking!

Few people in racing are as well-connected as Yu. An on-air host and reporter who has provided racing analysis for TVG, HRTV and the Breeders' Cup, Yu has spent a lifetime in racing. Prior to her television career, she worked for trainers Steve Asmussen and Ron Moquett. She also is married to Santa Anita-based trainer Ryan Hanson.

Yu also has tremendous handicapping chops. In a wide-open Kentucky Derby in 2021, she gave out Medina Spirit, who crossed the finish line first, as the winner at 12-1. In Pool 5 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager last year, she suggested a play on All Other 3-Year-Olds, which cashed at a whopping 18-1 when Rich Strike won the Derby.

Since the end of February, she has crushed the Saudi Cup, riding a 15-1 winner, nailed Derma Sotogake to win the UAE Derby and hit the exacta in the Santa Anita Derby. She has hit the exacta in the Preakness Stakes, Hollywood Gold Cup and Bing Crosby Stakes and had both the winner and exacta in the Summertime Oaks and the Prince of Wales's Stakes. And in July, she smashed the Haskell Stakes for a $663 score, hitting 12-1 winner Geaux Rocket Ride as well as the exacta. 

Now, Yu has handicapped the 2023 American Pharoah Stakes horses, made her picks and constructed her bets. Join SportsLine here to see them!

One surprise: Yu is high on the chances of Next Level, the co-second choice at 4-1. "He's still a maiden, but his grinding style could make some noise if his rivals labor home at this 8.5-furlong distance," Yu told SportsLine. She is using Next Level prominently in her wagers.

Moreover, Yu is high on a double-digit longshot whose pedigree "screams two turns." She is including this horse in her 2023 American Pharoah Stakes bets, and so should you. You ABSOLUTELY need to see her picks before locking in any of your own.

So who wins the 2023 American Pharoah Stakes? What double-digit longshot is a must-back? And how has Yu constructed her wagers? ... Join SportsLine right now to get Michelle Yu's 2023 American Pharoah Stakes picks, all from the insider who crushed the Haskell Stakes!