Breeders' Cup Juvenile: Baffert says Hughes is 'a happy horse' after win; undecided on Derby path

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LEXINGTON, Ky. − Hughes came out of his victory in Friday’s $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile “a happy horse” trainer Bob Baffert said Saturday morning, and the undefeated 2-year-old will now be pointed to a 2027 campaign that Baffert hopes includes a start in the Kentucky Derby on May 2.

Hughes capped a 5-for-5 campaign with a 2 1/4-length victory in the Juvenile, running away from pace-prompter Coach Pope and easily outfinishing the Grade 1 winner American History, who finished second.

The victory was Baffert’s 22nd in a Breeders’ Cup race − he trails Aidan O’Brien by one in that department − and his record extending seventh in the Juvenile.

“The thing about Hughes is, he’s still a baby, he’s still maturing,” Baffert said. “What I love about him is he goes fast then he goes faster, like the real good ones. That was pretty impressive.”

Hughes had a relatively easy time of things in Southern California earlier this year, winning all four of his starts by a combined 24 1/2 lengths. That included a maiden win at Los Alamitos, the Grade 3 Best Pal, and Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity, and the Grade 1 American Pharoah at Santa Anita.

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In the Juvenile, Hughes faced tougher rivals including American History and Coach Pope, the one-two finishers from the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity, as well as Baffert’s own Salahudin, who had gone 3 for 3, including a victory in the Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs and the Ellis Park Juvenile.

Hughes dueled with Damavand early then when that one dropped back, Hughes was confronted by Coach Pope.

“When he turned for home, I didn’t know how he was going to react, those were really good horses he was running with,” Baffert said. “When he took off again that’s when you know you got something really special.”

Baffert said Hughes and Salahudin would both ship to his base at Churchill Downs and remain with him for a little while before Hughes likely heads to Southern California for the winter. Baffert said he hasn’t even thought about the path Hughes would take to the Kentucky Derby.

By virtue of his victories in the BC Juvenile and American Pharoah, Hughes has 40 qualifying points for next spring’s Derby.

Asked if he was confident that Hughes could stretch out in distance, Baffert said, “Oh yeah. Every time he runs, he doesn’t take a deep breath, he does it effortlessly. Everybody that gets on him says he moves like a cheetah; he’s just light on his feet, his athleticism is unreal. I think he proved yesterday how good he really is.”

Hughes, a son of Into Mischief, earned a 93 Beyer Speed Figure for the Juvenile victory. Hughes is expected to become the 34th BC Juvenile winner to be crowned 2-year-old champion.

Meanwhile, Baffert said he is considering running Salahudin back in the Grade 2, $400,000 Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs on Nov. 28.

Salahudin finished third in the Juvenile and Tyler Gaffalione said that he had American History leaning on him through the stretch.

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