Hughes Wins the Breeders Cup Juvenile at Keeneland
Unbeaten colt Hughes won the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile by 2¼ lengths at Keeneland on Friday, running 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.27 and giving trainer Bob Baffert his seventh victory in the race, wdrbwave.com reported. The victory brings Hughes to five wins in five starts, including three straight Grade 1 victories, while tying Baffert with Aidan O’Brien for the all-time Breeders’ Cup wins record at 22.
Bob Baffert's Hughes wins $2 million Juvenile at Breeders' Cup https://t.co/IcJZoFZfJa
The Battle Tested Finish Against Coach Pope
Ridden by Flavien Prat, Hughes raced near the lead through a half-mile in 46.65 seconds after growing eager on the first turn. As the field approached the stretch, Coach Pope drew alongside to challenge. Baffert noted that the colt had never previously faced a serious challenge before responding to secure the victory.
When a horse came to him, he just caught another gear,
Baffert said after the race.
American History finished second, while Baffert’s other runner, Salahudin, placed third. Bloodstock agent Donato Lanni and Tom Ryan’s Front Row Club work with the colt, whom Ryan named after Jack Hughes.
The 75 Mile Gap Between October and May
Historically, the path from the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner’s circle to the Churchill Downs winner’s circle spans roughly 75 miles and 42 years of racing history. Only two horses, Street Sense and Nyquist, have won both the Juvenile and the Kentucky Derby. Baffert has won the Juvenile six previous times with Vindication, Midshipman, New Year’s Day, Game Winner, Corniche, and Citizen Bull, yet none of those six went on to win the Kentucky Derby.
Past Juvenile performances offer varied precedents for the spring classic. In 1991, Arazi dominated the Juvenile by five lengths before finishing eighth as the Kentucky Derby favorite, while 2008 participant Mine That Bird finished last in the Juvenile before winning the Derby at 50-1.
Worth a look