Hughes wins Juvenile, eyes Derby

The margin of victory was 2 1/4 lengths. That number placed Hughes at the front of the pack in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile on Friday. He beat American History to the wire at Keeneland.

Hughes is now an early favorite for the Kentucky Derby in May. The bay colt is named after Jack Hughes, the U.S. hockey player who scored the gold medal winner in the Milan-Cortina Games last winter. Trainer Bob Baffert, a Hall of Famer, guided the horse to its latest win.

Jockey Flavien Prat rode the even-money favorite. He moved into contention immediately. Hughes passed Coach Pope and opened a gap. The field included eight horses. Three of them had not lost a race yet. Hughes had won four previous starts. Those victories came by at least six lengths. This race was tighter, but Hughes still controlled the finish.

The horse covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.27. Owners received $3.64 for a winning ticket. The second-place ticket paid $2.58. The third-place ticket paid $2.10. American History, trained by Todd Pletcher, finished second by a head. That horse paid $3.30 to win and $2.54 to place. Salahudin, also trained by Baffert, took third. His ticket paid $2.72.

Baffert described Hughes as a superior two-year-old. The colt is by Into Mischief and K P Dreamin. Baffert said the team brought the horse up slowly. Everything worked out on the day of the race. The performance took place under a clear late afternoon sky. It was the first day of the season-ending World Championships.

Jockey Jose Ortiz, who won the Kentucky Derby on Golden Tempo, had a questionable status earlier in the day. He fell from McCoy in a fifth-race spill. Brian Hernandez Jr., riding Fusta, was also involved. Both riders were cleared. Ortiz told USA Network that he rode an exercise bike for most of the afternoon to recover. He was fit for the Juvenile.

Emphatic won the $2 million Juvenile Fillies. The undefeated horse held off Miss Monica by 1 1/2 lengths. This gave trainer Brandan Walsh his first Breeders' Cup victory. Miss Monica was next to last on the backstretch before finding a path outside. Emphatic improved to a 4-0 record. Sun Goddess won the $1 million Juvenile Fillies Turf. The Irish-bred horse extended her win streak to six. She beat Green Empress by three lengths.

Haffner won the $1 million Juvenile Turf. Substitute jockey Ryan Moore rode the 7-2 choice to a 1 3/4-length victory. He passed Avec Toi at the 1/16th pole. The win gave trainer Aiden O'Brien the Breeders' Cup record for most victories. He surpassed Baffert, who had 21 wins entering the day. O'Brien secured his ninth win of the day and his second Breeders' Cup victory. Libertango won the $1 million Turf Sprint. The Irish-bred filly overtook Ruiva in the final furlong. She beat Hell of Spin and Harper's Corner by 1 1/4 lengths.