Hughes Extends Baffert’s Record with Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Victory

Hughes won the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Friday at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky, securing a victory that extended Bob Baffert’s record in the event. The colt, trained by Baffert and ridden by Flavien Prat, defeated a field that included American History and Salahudin, both of whom had previously shown strong form.

Hughes covered one and one-sixteenth miles in 1:42.27, winning by two and a quarter lengths. He was the shortest-priced winner of the day at $3.64. American History took second place, while Baffert’s other horse, Salahudin, finished third. Coach Pope, who had been competitive in the stretch, faded to fourth. This result gave Baffert his seventh win in the Juvenile and his 22nd in all Breeders’ Cup races, leaving him one behind Aidan O’Brien, who won two other races on the card.

The colt entered the race as the heavy favorite after remaining unbeaten at Los Alamitos, Del Mar, and Santa Anita. He had won four consecutive starts by a combined margin of 24 lengths. Baffert noted the change in competitive intensity during a trackside interview. “I never knew how good this horse was until today, because he’d never been in a battle,” Baffert said. “He really battled. That was very impressive.”

Prat, who replaced Juan Hernandez for the mount, described the horse’s effort during the race. “He dug deep,” Prat said. “He’s a very good and game horse.” Hughes took the lead on the backstretch after He Is No Lie started awkwardly. By the head of the short homestretch, Hughes was among four horses in contention before surging away from the field.

Other Breeders’ Cup events saw victories for European-trained horses. Aidan O’Brien won the $1 million Juvenile Turf with Haffner and the $1 million Juvenile Fillies Turf with Sun Goddess. Sun Goddess, who had beaten Libertango at Newmarket the previous month, won her seventh race in nine starts. O’Brien praised the filly’s performance, saying, “She’s very special. Ryan rode her very forward, very uncomplicated, very confidently today.”

In the $1 million Juvenile Turf Sprint, Libertango won by rallying from mid-pack. Jockey Billy Loughnane made a late switch to the mount after making weight in the sauna shortly before the race. Loughnane stated, “I thought I was going to have to give up riding her today. I’ve been working very hard on my weight in the last few weeks. I managed to get enough off in the sauna just before.” Hell of A Spin finished second, with Mussab taking third after a disqualification involving Harper’s Corner and Paco Lopez.

The Juvenile Fillies was won by Emphatic, trained by Brendan Walsh. Miss Monica, who was favored, finished second. Walsh remarked, “Bob’s filly was running at her. (Emphatic) was in front when it matters.” Saturday’s schedule includes nine of the 14 Breeders’ Cup trophies, with $23 million in purses on the line. The $7 million Classic will feature Forever Young, who seeks the first repeat winner in the race since Tiznow in 2001.