Starting as the 1-5 favorite in a competitive field of six two-year-olds, which notably included four contenders from Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert’s stable, the Into Mischief colt Hughes extended his undefeated streak to four wins with an impressive six-length victory in Saturday’s Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, California.
Guided by jockey Juan Hernandez, Hughes stayed just behind the early leader, Net Par, for the first six furlongs, then made a wide move around the far turn before effortlessly pulling away to finish the 1 1/16-mile race in 1:43.22. Net Par, trained by Antonio Garcia, finished second after setting early fractions of :23.37, :46.86, and 1:11.22. Baffert’s second choice in the race, Imperial Honor, came in third, trailing by over nine lengths. Other Baffert trainees, Domus and Emancipate, secured fourth and fifth places, while Doug O’Neill’s Dang Son finished last.
This win marked Baffert’s 14th success in this race, which was previously known as the Norfolk Stakes and later the FrontRunner Stakes. American Pharoah, who later won the Triple Crown for Baffert, was a winner of this race in 2014.
Hughes paid out $2.60 and clinched a paid entry to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on October 30 at Keeneland, as part of the “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series.
Jockey Hernandez noted, “Bob told me he had cut back on the blinkers so Hughes would relax more, and I could ride him freely. Hughes had a slow start but settled well behind the horses. It was his first time running two turns and racing behind others, and he handled it well. I stayed ready all race and when we hit the quarter pole, I asked him to go, and he accelerated strongly to the finish.”
Bred in Kentucky by Garrett O’Rourke and Dr. Rhonda O’Rourke of Breffni Farm, Hughes was purchased for $675,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, consigned by Blandford Stud. He races under a partnership that includes Front Row Club, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Robert Masterson, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan.
Hughes’s career began with a six-length victory at Los Alamitos on June 21, followed by dominant wins in Del Mar’s G3 Best Pal and G1 Del Mar Futurity, winning those races by 7¾ and 4¾ lengths respectively without significant challenge. Altogether, he has now won his four starts by a combined margin of 24½ lengths.
Baffert commented, “It was great experience for him to run behind horses; initially, he was a bit anxious but settled nicely. When we asked him to accelerate, he did so efficiently. His time here was very respectable. He’s improving steadily and learning to relax through two-turn races. That ability to turn it off and on is crucial. He fits well for the Breeders’ Cup, and hopefully, he stays healthy. We saw some strong competitors in other juvenile races this weekend, but I believe Hughes is a top-class horse.”
Into Mischief, Hughes’s sire and a seven-time leading stallion, stands at the historic Spendthrift Farm, revived by the late B. Wayne Hughes.
This article was first published by Paulick Report on October 3, 2026, appearing originally in their News section.
Fan Take:
Hughes’s commanding performance solidifies him as a standout juvenile with the potential to shape the future of horse racing. For fans and the sport alike, his emergence highlights the excitement and promise of the next generation of Thoroughbreds, fueling anticipation for the Breeders’ Cup and beyond.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
