Hughes is in. American History is in. U.S.S. Valor is out.
Following a thrilling trio of Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series “Win and You’re In” races, the field for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) is taking shape. The 1 1/16-mile race is scheduled for Oct. 30 at Keeneland, where Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert aims to add to his record six victories in the event.
Hughes Gives Baffert Likely Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Favorite
Unbeaten Hughes extended his winning streak to four with an emphatic six-length victory over Net Par in the $300,000 American Pharoah Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita. The colt has won his four career starts by a combined 25 ½ lengths, establishing himself as the likely betting favorite for the Juvenile.
“He fits well in the Breeders’ Cup now, so hopefully we can get him there healthy,” Baffert said. The victory also marks a strong return for Baffert’s assistant, Jimmy Barnes, who noted that Hughes came out of the race in excellent shape. Domus, who finished fourth for Baffert, is also being considered as a potential starter.
American History’s Late Charge Proves Decisive
American History produced an impressive late charge to upset Coach Pope in the $650,000 Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland. The victory gives Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher a strong chance to add to his five previous Breeders’ Cup Juvenile triumphs, including last year’s winner, Ted Noffey.
Trainer Kenny McPeek was pleased with Coach Pope’s effort, despite the runner-up being caught late by American History. “He held off the one he was up against [Q B Rocket], and then he got run down [by American History],” McPeek said. “He will get a lot out of this race and move forward… He’ll come back in the Breeders’ Cup if he’s OK.” Q B Rocket, trained by Brad Cox, finished 1 ¼ lengths behind the winner and is also a candidate for the Juvenile.
Of American History, Pletcher remarked that the extra distance and two turns suit him perfectly, a theory validated by his Grade 1 score. Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, aboard the winner, described the colt’s relentless style: “My horse has one stride — kind of keeps coming, coming, coming — and that’s the way he did it… He’s still learning. He’s a big boy. We’re very happy things turned out the way they did.”
Champagne Winner U.S.S. Valor Bypassing Juvenile
At Belmont Park, heavy favorite U.S.S. Valor rolled to a 6 ½-length victory over Gaudreau in the $500,000 Champagne Stakes (G1). However, owner Team Valor’s Barry Irwin announced that the colt will bypass the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, aiming instead for the Kentucky Derby (G1). Irwin noted that BC Juvenile winners historically do not perform well six months later in the Derby; only two of the 42 BC Juvenile winners have gone on to capture the Derby—Street Sense in 2007 and Nyquist in 2016.
Runner-up Gaudreau and third-place finisher Club Reign remain possible for the Juvenile. All three races awarded Derby qualifying points of 10-5-3-2-1 on a sliding scale to the top five finishers, while also producing additional probables for the BC Juvenile, a race that often decides the 2-year-old male champion and elevates the winner to early Derby favorite status.
Other BC Juvenile Contenders …
Other notable contenders include Phone Booth, sixth in the Breeders’ Futurity after running second in the Del Mar Futurity (G1); Mystrix, a maiden who ran second in the Hopeful Stakes (G1); Dang Son, sixth in the American Pharoah; Salahudin, 3-for-3 for Baffert with a win in the Iroquois Stakes (G3); He Is No Lie, a maiden winner who finished second in the Iroquois; and Full Access, a 2-for-2 winner for trainer Riley Mott stepping up to graded company.
The BC Juvenile is Friday, Oct. 30, with a post time of 4:55 p.m. ET. Pre-entries are announced Oct. 21, and the final draw is Oct. 26.
BC ‘Win and You’re In’ Winners, $2 Win Payouts, Corresponding BC Race
Thursday’s Results
Belmont Park
$250,000 Vosburgh Stakes — T Kraft ($13.88), (Breeders’ Cup Sprint)
$500,000 Flower Bowl Stakes — Kathynmarissa ($4.88), (Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf)
Friday’s Results
Keeneland
$650,000 Darley Alcibiades — Emphatic ($3.39), (Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies)
$400,000 Jessamine Stakes — Serenas Ghost ($47.44), (Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf)
$400,000 Phoenix Stakes– Nakatomi ($3.42), (Breeders’ Cup Sprint)
Saturday’s Results
Belmont
$500,000 Champagne Stakes — U.S.S. Valor ($2.74), (BC Juvenile)
$200,000 Futurity Stakes — Good to Be King ($5.16), (BC Juvenile Turf Sprint)
$200,000 Miss Grillo Stakes — Domestic Agenda ($3.94), (BC Juvenile Fillies Turf)
$250,000 Pilgrim Stakes — Let Em Know ($27.38), (BC Juvenile Turf)
Keeneland
$650,000 Breeders’ Futurity — American History ($12), (BC Juvenile)
$1.25 million Coolmore Turf Mile — Rhetorical ($5.72), (BC Mile)
$400,000 Thoroughbred Club of America — Evanesence ($7.98), (BC Filly & Mare Sprint)
Santa Anita
$300,000 American Pharoah Stakes — Hughes ($2.60), (BC Juvenile)
$200,000 Oak Leaf Stakes — Domain Expansion ($31), BC Juvenile Fillies
$200,000 Rodeo Drive Stakes –Thought Process ($3.60), (BC Filly & Mare Turf
Sunday
Keeneland
$650,000 Spinster Stakes: Fully Subscribed ($3.08), (Breeders’ Cup Distaff)
$400,000 Bourbon Stakes: Agate ($3.64), (BC Juvenile Turf)
Richard Rosenblatt is an award-winning journalist and former Associated Press Horse Racing Editor. Currently, he serves as the news editor at US Racing, overseeing exclusive content from contributors worldwide.
