Kentucky-bred Hughes delivered a powerful performance in winning the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Keeneland.
Trained by Bob Baffert, Hughes remained perfect through five lifetime starts and likely locked up Champion 2-Year-Old Male honors. Under Flavien Prat, Hughes was prominent through the 1 1/16-mile fixture. He seized the lead on the far turn and turned back a trio of challengers to win going away.
“Sometimes they make it look easy, but easy ain’t easy,” Baffert said. “The horse had never been in a battle, and he really battled. He was very impressive.”
Owned by Front Row Club, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Bashor Racing, Albaugh Family Stables, Robert Masterson, Golconda Stables, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan, Hughes is named after Jack Hughes of the NHL’s New Jersey Devils. The son of Into Mischief was bred by Breffni Farm.
“His trip was good,” said Prat. “Once I got going into the last turn, he finally dropped the bridle. He took a breather, and not where I wanted to do it, but he did and then he was game after that. When he turned for home, he made a really good move.”
Hughes is now an earner of more than $1.5 million. He is by Into Mischief out of the Union Rags mare K P Dreamin.