Hughes officially punched his ticket to the top of the 2027 Kentucky Derby conversation Friday, absolutely dominating the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile with a 2¼-length victory at Keeneland. That’s a huge statement, especially for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, even if the road from here to the Run for the Roses is notoriously rocky.
This Horse Is Built Different
Talk about a performance! Hughes, a $675,000 purchase from Keeneland’s 2025 September Yearling Sale, is now an unbelievable 5 for 5, and he’s racked up three Grade 1 victories already. Jockey Flavien Prat, who rode Hughes to a 1:42.27 finish over 1 1/16 miles as the 4-5 favorite, didn’t hold back, saying, “Based on the way he ran today and the feeling that he gave me, he’s for sure , as of now , one of the top contenders, if not the best one.” Even Baffert called Hughes “a superior 2-year-old.” You love to hear that kind of confidence.
Hughes stalked long shot Damavand early, nosed in front on the backstretch, and then when fourth-place Coach Pope tried to make a move on the turn, Hughes just caught another gear. Baffert himself said, “Today, at the quarter-pole, I thought, ‘Well, we’re going to find out what he’s made of.’ When that horse came to him, he just caught another gear. You like to see that.” Hughes easily put away Coach Pope, then held off late charges from American History, who finished second, and Baffert’s other horse, Salahudin, who took third. He paid $3.64 on a $2 wager. Tom Ryan of Front Row Club, one of the ownership group members, summed it up perfectly: “This is the pinnacle of 2-year-old racing right here. This is championship racing, and he has not let us down. He’s 5 for 5, and we could not be more proud.” This horse is light on his feet, like a “cheetah,” Baffert said. He skips over the ground and never takes a deep breath.
The Baffert Derby Curse, But Make It Hughes
Here’s the kicker, though, and it’s a massive challenge: Baffert has won the Kentucky Derby six times, a legendary feat. But he’s *never* done it with a horse who also won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. In fact, only two of his previous six Juvenile winners, Game Winner (who finished fifth in 2019) and Citizen Bull (who ran 15th in 2025), even made it to the Kentucky Derby starting gate. That’s a stat that’ll make any fan pause. Baffert acknowledged it, too, saying, “The one who wins now is special. We felt pretty good about it the way he’s been working up. Today was his day to shine.” Hughes earned a cool $1.04 million for his ownership team, but the real prize, the Derby, is still six months and a ton of tough racing away.
So, what’s next? The conversation for the 2027 Kentucky Derby has officially begun, and Hughes is sitting right at the top. The question now is whether this “superior 2-year-old” can defy history and deliver Baffert a first-ever Derby win with a Breeders’ Cup Juvenile champion. We’ll be watching every step of that journey.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply