With a powerful kick in the final yards to pull clear of a trio of challengers, Hughes remained unbeaten with a 2 1/4-length win in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Keeneland on Future Stars Friday.
The 2-year-old Into Mischief colt gave trainer Bob Baffert his seventh win in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and also becomes the early favorite for the 2027 Kentucky Derby(G1), a race the Hall of Fame trainer has won a record-equaling six times.
"I'll take it," Baffert smiled when reminded he has the early Derby favorite, something that's happened many times before.
Ridden by Flavien Prat for the first time, Hughes ($3.64) stalked the pace set by Domavand in a field of six. By the time the field turned for home, Hughes was challenged by Coach Pope, American History and Salahudin, also trained by Baffert.
Hughes, though, found another gear for the final rush to the finish and moved to 5-0, all but clinching an Eclipse Award as the 2-year-old male champion.
"That was a great performance by both my horses, but I never knew how good this horse was until today because he's never been in a battle," Baffert said. "He really battled. That was very impressive.
"This horse has never been asked to do that, so you don't know how they're going to respond. Prat was riding him pretty confidently. That was just a great, great performance."
American History was second, followed by Salahudin, Coach Pope, Damavand and He Is No Lie.
Winning time for the 1 1/16 miles was 1:42.27.
The race was a Derby points qualifier, awarding 30-15-9-6-3 points on a sliding scale to the top five finishers. Hughes, already with 10 points for his win the American Pharoah Stakes (G1) on Oct. 3, now totals 40 points.
Jose Ortiz, who was unseated from his mount at the start of the fourth race on Friday, an allowance optional claimer, missed one Breeders' Cup race but returned to ride Coach Pope in the BC Juvenile.
In the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), Emphatic (5-2) came through with a resounding victory to remain unbeaten and move into the role as early favorite for the 2027 Kentucky Oaks (G1).
Ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, the Nyquist filly caught pacesetter Lexi's Charm around the final turn, poured on the power in the stretch and easily held of late-closing Miss Monica by 1 ½ lengths.
“I felt like a winner the entire race,” Gaffalione said. “She broke alertly, put herself in the game early and when I pushed the button, she really responded.”
With a 4-0 record, Emphatic likely clinched an Eclipse Award winner as champion 2-year-old filly. The win for the first in the Breeders' Cup for trainer Brendan Walsh.
The race was a Kentucky Oaks points qualifier, with Emphatic picking up 30 points to go along with the 10 earned from her earlier win the Alcibiades Stakes (G1) at Keeneland on Oct. 20.
Miss Monica, trained by Bob Baffert, was second, followed by Manuka Honey, Revenge of the Sis and Domain Expansion in the 12-horse field. Oaks points of 15-9-6-3 were awarded to the second-through fifth-place finishers.
For Baffert, he won his 22nd Breeders' Cup race, but he is now second behind Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien for most wins by a trainer. O'Brien saddled Sun Goddess to win the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) and Haffner to win the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) to move to 23 Breeders' Cup wins.
In other Breeders' Cup races on Future Stars Friday:
Ireland-bred Libertango, the 9-5 favorite, stormed past Haper's Corner in deep stretch and won Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1) by 1 ¼ lengths over Hell of a Spin.
Regular rider Billy Loughnane was aboard for trainer George Boughey and Libertango returned $5.74. Flavien Prat was scheduled to ride, but Loughnane was able to lose enough pounds in the hours before the race to make weight and regain the mount.
Winning time for 5 ½ furlongs was 1:02.64. Harper's Corner was disqualified from third to eighth, moving Mussab up to third in the 12-horse field.
Ireland-bred Sun Goddess ($3.70), trained by O'Brien and ridden by Ryan Moore, made it six wins in a row with a three-length victory in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1).
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
