LEXINGTON, Ky. — Hughes claimed the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Friday at Keeneland in convincing fashion, making the Bob Baffert-trained colt the early favorite for next spring’s Kentucky Derby.
Named in part after U.S. Olympic hockey hero Jack Hughes, the 2-year-old stayed at or near the lead throughout the 1 1/16 miles, pulling away from American History, Salahudin and Coach Pope down the stretch to win the $2 million race by 2 1/4 lengths and earn his fifth victory in as many races.
“A good horse with a great name turns out to be a great story,” said co-owner Tom Ryan, whose father-in-law is three-time Stanley Cup champion and 10-year NHL veteran Pat Hughes. “He showed up here today in front of a big crowd.”
Hughes, who went off as the 4-5 favorite, paid $3.64 on a $2 bet, $2.58 to place and $2.10 to show.
American History paid $3.30 and $2.54, and Salahudin, Baffert’s other horse who was a head behind the Todd Pletcher-trained colt, paid $2.72.
Coach Pope, trained by Kenny McPeek and named after Kentucky basketball coach Mark Pope, faded after nearly catching Hughes at the 3/4-mile pole, finishing fourth, 3 3/4 lengths back of Salahudin.
Ridden by Flavien Prat, Hughes won in 1:42.27.
Baffert mentioned a training session with jockey Rafael Bejarano opened his eyes to the type of horse he had in Hughes.
“He’s never been battle-tested, and you don’t know how they’re going to respond,” Baffert said. “Today, at the (three) quarter pole, I thought, ‘Well, we’re going to find out what he’s made of’… He just like caught another gear, and you like to see that.”
Only twice in the history of the Breeders’ Cup, which began in 1984, has the winner of the Juvenile gone on to claim the Kentucky Derby. Street Sense, the 2007 Derby winner, was the first, with Nyquist following in 2016.
Baffert has trained six Kentucky Derby winners, tying him with Ben A. Jones for the most in the 152-year history of the race at Churchill Downs. His last came in 2020 with Authentic. His horse Medina Spirit finished first in the 2021 Derby but was later disqualified for failing a drug test.
Churchill Downs Inc. then suspended the Hall of Fame trainer from entering a horse at any of its tracks for three years. Baffert, who has trained two Triple Crown winners, last won a Triple Crown race in 2023 when National Treasure won the Preakness Stakes.
Friday was for the 2-year-olds at the Breeders’ Cup, and Baffert had a chance to win both the Juvenile and the $2 million Juvenile Fillies, the two dirt races on the championship card. However, Miss Monica was bumped at the start in the field of 12. The 2-1 post-time favorite rallied but could not catch Emphatic, who beat her by 1 1/2 lengths in the 1 1/16-mile race.
Irish-bred Libertango claimed the $1 million Juvenile Turf Sprint, winning for the fourth time in six races. Sun Goddess, another Irish-bred, won the $1 million Juvenile Fillies Turf and extended her winning streak to six races.
In Friday’s finale, Kentucky-bred Haffner won his American debut in the $1 million Juvenile Turf and prevailed for the fourth time in seven starts.
The Breeders’ Cup concludes Saturday at the Lexington track with nine more races for horses 3 years old and older. The main event will be the $7 million Classic featuring Golden Tempo and Sovereignty, the past two Kentucky Derby winners, and last year’s Classic champion Forever Young.
–Steve Bittenbender, Field Level Media
