Hughes Wins Del Mar Futurity, Giving Bob Baffert 20th Victory
On Sunday, trainer Bob Baffert secured his record-extending 20th victory in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity at Del Mar racetrack as the 2-year-old colt Hughes romped to a 4 3/4-length win under jockey Juan Hernandez.
Extending a Historic Standard in North American Racing
If professional horse trainers drafted up professional CVs, the opening entry on Bob Baffert’s would state: Six-time Kentucky Derby winner. But not far below that would be: 20-time Del Mar Futurity winner, as reported by the Orange County Register. Baffert achieved the milestone on a muggy, windy Sunday afternoon when Hughes and Hernandez made fast work of a small field in the 7-furlong event.
Even though his half-dozen Derby victories earned between 1997 and 2020 tie him with Ben Jones for the all-time record, Baffert’s total of 20 Del Mar Futurity triumphs going back to 1996 remains the highest mark ever achieved by any single trainer within one North American stakes race. The Hall of Famer noted that his barn traditionally skews heavily toward incoming talent. As Baffert explained to the Orange County Register, his barn is top-heavy with 2-year-olds, adding that California remains the premier jurisdiction to ready young stock for high-stakes competition.
Tactical Breakdown and Race Execution
Bred as a son of leading U.S. sire Into Mischief and the mare KP Dreamin, Hughes entered the test with high expectations. According to Daily Racing Form, the colt previously captured his 5-furlong debut at Los Alamitos Race Course in June and the Grade III Best Pal Stakes over 6 furlongs at Del Mar in August by a combined 13-3/4 lengths.
Sent off at 1-5 odds in a compact five-horse field—the smallest since 2004, per Daily Racing Form reporting—Hughes faced early pressure. Racing into a headwind off the Pacific Ocean, Hernandez guided his mount two-wide, pressing between Baffert stablemate Domus and 25-1 long shot High Pronto. After putting away the early pacesetter near the quarter pole, Hughes briefly contended with a rail charge from runner-up Phone Booth before drawing clear in a final time of 1:22.57, which the Orange County Register noted as the third-fastest time in the past decade of the race.
“I had that horse inside me, but I didn’t want to push on my horse too early,” Hernandez said, according to the Orange County Register. “When we straightened out, he was lugging in just a bit, so I tapped him on the left side and we were fine. He did his job today.”
Ownership Stakes and Financial Impact
The race carried a total purse of $300,000. According to wagering data cited by the Orange County Register, bettors backed the heavy favorite extensively, loading the show pool with approximately $131,377 out of a total $155,692 pool. Hughes returned $2.40 to win, $2.10 to place, and $2.10 to show.
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The victory yielded an $180,000 share of the purse for the winning ownership group. Hughes races for a prominent partnership that includes Front Row Club, Starlight Racing and Madaket Stables, according to Daily Racing Form. Olympic hockey star Jack Hughes.
Future Campaign Trail and Strategic Outlook
Looking ahead, Baffert indicated that the distance profile suits the colt’s running style. As Daily Racing Form reported, Baffert believes the horse will improve as distances increase. The next logical target for Hughes is the Grade 1, 1 1/16-mile American Pharoah Stakes on Oct. 3 at Santa Anita Park, where a deeper field awaits, potentially including prominent colts like Inshallah and Kennyten.
Disclaimer: The insights provided in this article are for informational and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute medical advice or sports betting recommendations.