Hughes takes Breeders' Cup Juvenile: Derby contender emerges

Hughes covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.27 on Friday at Keeneland, taking the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile by 2 1/4 lengths over American History. The bay colt, an even-money favorite, returned $3.64, $2.58 and $2.10 to win. He is trained by Bob Baffert and was ridden by Flavien Prat.

Prat put Hughes into contention early, then swept past the challenger Coach Pope and widened the gap down the stretch. Hughes faced an eight-horse field that included three undefeated 2-year-olds. American History, trained by Todd Pletcher, finished second by a head and returned $3.30 and $2.54. Salahudin, also trained by Baffert, took third and paid $2.72.

Baffert said of the son of Into Mischief and K P Dreamin by Union Rags, "He's just a really superior 2-year-old." He added, "We brought him up slowly, and everything worked out. Today was his day to shine."

The Juvenile ran on the first day of the season-ending World Championships, which carded five million-dollar Grade 1 races for the world's top 2-year-olds. The colt is named for U.S. Olympic men's hockey player Jack Hughes, whose overtime goal secured the gold medal at the Milan-Cortina Games last winter.

The status of Coach Pope jockey Jose Ortiz was in question for a time after a fifth-race spill involving McCoy, with Brian Hernandez Jr. on Fusta. Both riders were cleared. Ortiz told USA Network he spent most of the afternoon on an exercise bike so he could ride in the Juvenile.

In the $2 million Juvenile Fillies, the unbeaten Emphatic held off Miss Monica by 1 1/4 lengths to give trainer Brandan Walsh his first Breeders' Cup win. Emphatic improved to 4-0. In the $1 million Juvenile Fillies Turf, Irish-bred Sun Goddess won her sixth straight start, taking the race by three lengths over Green Empress with Curracloe third.

Ryan Moore, riding as a substitute, guided the 7-2 choice Haffner to a 1 3/4-length win in the $1 million Juvenile Turf, passing Avec Toi at the 1/16th pole and holding off the 5-2 favorite Folsom Blues. The victory gave trainer Aiden O'Brien 22 Breeders' Cup wins, moving him past Baffert, who entered the day tied at 21. It was one of two Breeders' Cup victories for O'Brien on Friday.

In the $1 million Turf Sprint, the 5-2 favorite Libertango overtook Ruiva in the final furlong to win by 1 1/4 lengths. Libertango has four wins and two seconds in six starts this season. Harper's Corner was dropped from third to eighth after an objection that moved Mussab from fourth up to third.