Hughes Defies Challenge in Breeders' Cup Juvenile Victory

Hughes won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile on Friday at Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky, by two and a quarter lengths. The colt ran the one mile and one-sixteenth in 1 minute and 42.27 seconds to take the $2 million purse. This victory marks his fifth win in five starts, extending a streak that includes three consecutive Grade 1 victories.

Jockey Flavien Prat kept Hughes close to the lead through the first half-mile, which was covered in 46.65 seconds. Prat noted that the horse was eager on the first turn and needed to settle before making a move. As they approached the stretch, Coach Pope, trained by Kenny McPeek, moved up to test the leader. Hughes responded to the pressure, accelerating to distance the field. American History finished second, while Baffert's other entry, Salahudin, placed third.

The win gives trainer Bob Baffert his seventh victory in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. It also ties Aidan O'Brien for the all-time record with 22 Breeders' Cup wins. O'Brien had broken the tie in the previous race, holding the sole lead for a brief period before Baffert matched the mark. Baffert has won the Kentucky Derby six times, though a seventh win with Medina Spirit was stripped after the horse tested positive for a prohibited substance.

Baffert acknowledged the uncertainty of the race. He said he did not know how Hughes would respond to being challenged because the colt had not been battle-tested. When Coach Pope came alongside, Baffert leaned forward to observe. Baffert stated that Hughes caught another gear when the other horse arrived. He described the colt as a superior two-year-old who moves like a cheetah, skipping over the ground without taking deep breaths.

Hughes is a son of Into Mischief, a sire of Kentucky Derby winners Authentic, Mandaloun, and Sovereignty. The horse is owned by a group associated with Tom Ryan, who founded Front Row Club this year to find promising young colts for Derby campaigns. Ryan named the horse after hockey player Jack Hughes, who scored the overtime goal for the United States in the Olympic gold medal game earlier this year. Ryan said the naming process added family pressure, but the horse has performed well.

Historical data shows that only two horses have won both the Juvenile and the Kentucky Derby: Street Sense in 2007 and Nyquist in 2016. In the 42 years since the Breeders' Cup began, 109 Juvenile runners have started in the Derby. Six won, nine finished second, and nine finished third. Baffert's previous six Juvenile winners did not win the Derby, with Game Winner finishing fifth in 2019 and Citizen Bull placing 15th last year.

Baffert is already looking toward the next spring. He said the two-year-old crop is strong and that he will hear more about the other top finishers. He expressed interest in Salahudin for longer distances. Pletcher, who trains American History, believed the horse could have finished closer with a cleaner trip. McPeek said Coach Pope still has learning to do. The next major test for Hughes is the Kentucky Derby in May, a distance of one and a quarter miles.