Hughes, a well-made juvenile colt by super sire Into Mischief, walked his beat in fine fashion Sunday at Del Mar as he came away a 4 3/4-length victor in the 79th edition of the Del Mar Futurity (G1). Juan Hernandez teamed with the bay to take down a $180,000 winner’s prize in the $300,000 feature and he did it as the 1-5 favorite in a field of five. He ran the seven furlongs in 1:22.57 and was geared down late as he cruised home. His $2 payoff was $2.40.
The $675,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase last year has now won both his starts by daylight. In doing so this time, he gave his conditioner – Hall of Famer Bob Baffert – the extraordinary mark of having won the Del Mar Futurity 20 times. Hernandez also won his meet-leading 12th stakes race.
Besides his purse totals, Hughes also won a Breeders’ Cup Dirt Dozen reward of $30,000, half the entry fee to the $2-million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), which is where he is likely to end his 2-year-old season Oct. 31 at Keeneland.