Baffert still rules Del Mar Futurity as Hughes romps

DEL MAR, Calif. – The 2-year-old colt Hughes is maturing this summer, and on Sunday at Del Mar his reputation extended upward, the same direction as trainer Bob Baffert’s record win total in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity.

Hughes ($2.40) won the seven-furlong Del Mar Futurity by 4 3/4 lengths over runner-up Phone Booth. The win by Hughes was Baffert’s 20th victory in the stakes he first won with Silver Charm in 1996. Baffert has won the Del Mar Futurity the last six years.

Juan Hernandez rode Hughes, favored in the five-runner Futurity after winning his debut at Los Alamitos and Grade 3 Best Pal at Del Mar by open lengths. On Sunday at Del Mar, Hughes took his cue from Hernandez, who wanted the colt to wait before making his move.

“He relaxed pretty good,” Hernandez said. “I grabbed him, and he came back to me. He’s learning, he’s improving.”

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Hughes pressed two-wide between rivals, put away pacesetter High Pronto near the quarter pole, then was briefly challenged from the inside by Phone Booth. “I saw him,” Hernandez said, referring to High Pronto. “I was just waiting for the quarter pole to start making my move.”

Three-wide into the stretch, Hughes ran away to win the seven-furlong race in 1:22.57. Phone Booth finished more than five lengths clear of third-place Dang Son. Baffert-trained Domus, the 3-1 second choice, finished fourth. Doug O’Neill trains High Pronto, Dang Son and last-place finisher High Pronto. O’Neill and Baffert were the only trainers with Futurity runners.

This year’s five-runner Futurity was the smallest since 2004, when the race attracted just four starters. Baffert believes the best is still ahead for Hughes, a $675,000 yearling by Into Mischief.

“I think this horse, the farther he goes, the better he’ll be,” Baffert said. “I’m relieved he ran, and it’s very exciting to win this race. But I was hoping my other horse (Domus) would run better than that.”

Next out, Hughes will face a deeper field than he met Sunday at Del Mar. If he runs Oct. 3 in the Grade 1, 1 1/16-mile American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita, Hughes is expected to attract at least two prominent colts who skipped the Futurity – Inshallah and Kennyten.

Hughes, now 3 for 3, is owned by a partnership that includes Front Row Club, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables and Stonestreet Stables. Hughes is named for Jack Hughes, the U.S. Olympic hockey star.

The win was Baffert’s sixth straight in the Futurity, and fourth odds-on win in the last five years.

Bob Baffert
Del Mar Futurity / 20 wins

- 2026 Hughes

- 2025 Brant

- 2024 Gaming

- 2023 Prince of Monaco

- 2022 Cave Rock

- 2021 Pinehurst

- 2018 Game Winner

- 2016 Klimt

- 2014 American Pharoah

- 2012 Rolling Fog

- 2011 Drill

- 2009 Lookin At Lucky

- 2008 Midshipman

- 2002 Icecoldbeeratreds

- 2001 Officer

- 2000 Flame Thrower

- 1999 Forest Camp

- 1998 Worldly Manner

- 1997 Souvenir Copy

- 1996 Silver Charm

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