Undefeated runners who continually put massive amounts of daylight between themselves and their competitors are a joy to watch. Thus, despite triple-digit heat at Santa Anita Park for the Oct. 3 American Pharoah Stakes (G1), fans reveled in seeing what a truly talented horse looks like. His name is Hughes.
Trainer Bob Baffert annually brings a phalanx of 2-year-olds for all of the Southern California juvenile stakes. More often than not he wins them, but not always with the same individual. This year, it's all Hughes.
Four Baffert-trained runners faced two other horses in the 1 1/16-mile American Pharoah, which offers a fees-paid berth to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) Oct. 30 at Keeneland through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In. Also on the line were qualifying points to the 2027 Kentucky Derby (G1) on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale to the top five finishers.
Give California-bred Net Par credit for trying to thwart Hughes. He took the early lead and did his best to hold on, getting away with the first quarter-mile in :23.37 and a half-mile in :46.86.
Juan Hernandez let Hughes settle into third, swung him three wide to make his bid on the second turn, and took the lead at the quarter pole. Hughes increased his margin to 6 lengths at the wire in 1:43.22. Net Par was 9 1/2 lengths in front of third-place Imperial Honor.
"He broke a step slow, but he relaxed really good behind horses," Hernandez said. "I was loaded the whole race. I was just waiting for the quarter pole to start making my run. When I hit the quarter pole, I asked him and he took off for the wire."
Barbara Banke of Stonestreet Stables led Hughes into the winner's circle. She represented the large ownership group that also includes Front Row Club, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Bashor Racing, Albaugh Family Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan.
"I was so worried about the heat," Banke said. "But actually, now that I'm here, this is not as bad as it was at Keeneland." She added with a smile, "I grew up down here—it's a dry heat."
Baffert felt that the American Pharoah taught Hughes things a young horse needs to learn en route to the Breeders' Cup.
"He got behind horses, and we wanted to see that," Baffert said. "At first, he was a little anxious, but he settled well and when he asked him to go, he went. And it was a very respectable time. He came back great. I think he's just getting better and better—baby steps and progress in the right way."
The partnership bought Hughes for $675,000 from the Blandford Stud consignment at the 2025 Keeneland September Yearling Sale through bloodstock agent Donato Lanni.
Hughes was "good from Day 1," Baffert said before the American Pharoah, and the colt proved it with his first three races: a 6-length maiden win that earned him BloodHorse Maiden Watch Hot Prospect status, a victory by 7 3/4 lengths in the Best Pal Stakes (G3), and a 4 3/4-length triumph in the Del Mar Futurity (G1).
"This is the first time he's ever gone two turns," Baffert noted. "Juan got him to settle, and he shut it down. That's what you need—you need a horse that can shut it off, and he did."
Breffni Farm bred Hughes in Kentucky from the Union Rags mare K P Dreamin, who ran third in the 2019 Chandelier Stakes (G1) and Starlet Stakes (G1) in California. Many in Hughes' pedigree did some or all of their racing in California, including the Baffert-trained 2001 Horse of the Year Point Given, sire of second dam Litigating; Go Between, a full brother to Litigating and winner of the 2008 Pacific Classic Stakes (G1); and sire Into Mischief .
Into Mischief is a seven-time leading sire, and his 2026 grade 1 winners also include 2025 Horse of the Year Sovereignty, Shred the Gnar, Eclatant, Renegade, and Commandment. Into Mischief stood the 2026 season for a fee of $250,000 at Spendthrift Farm near Lexington.
