Hughes was in fine fettle and enjoying a leisurely Sunday morning at trainer Bob Baffert's Santa Anita barn the day after rolling to a dominant win in the Grade I American Pharoah Stakes for 2-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles.
"He came out of the race in great shape. Now it's off to the Breeders' Cup," said Jimmy Barnes, Baffert's longtime assistant. Baffert, who was on hand for Saturday's victory, was already off to Kentucky to tend to his stable there and was not at Santa Anita Sunday.
By winning the American Pharoah, Hughes earned a fees-paid to the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile on Oct. 30 at Keeneland where he'll be the likely favorite. Barnes said details on when Hughes will join Baffert's string in Kentucky have not been finalized but he'll be shipping out "sooner than later."
Making his two-turn debut in the American Pharoah, Hughes circled the field on the second turn and drew off in the stretch to win by six lengths while being geared down late by jockey Juan Hernandez.
The final time of 1:43.22 earned Hughes a 100 Beyer Speed Figure. It's the highest Beyer posted by a 2-year-old this year at one mile or more. In Saturday's GI Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park going a one-turn mile, winner U.S.S. Valor received a 95 Beyer Speed Figure.
He previously posted a 105 Beyer when breaking his maiden going seven furlongs at Saratoga. On Sunday morning, U.S.S. Valor's owner Barry Irwin of Team Valor International delivered major news when announcing U.S.S. Valor would not run in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
In Saturday's other Grade I for 2-year-olds, the Breeders' Futurity going 1 1/16 miles at Keeneland, winner American History received an 85 Beyer.
The American Pharoah was Hughes's second Grade I win and upped his record to 4-for-4 with $480,000 in earnings. The colt by Into Mischief previously won the GI Del Mar Futurity going seven furlongs and GIII Best Pal going six furlongs, both at Del Mar this summer.
Hughes is owned by an extensive ownership group that includes Front Row Club, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables and Stonestreet Stables. He was purchased for $675,000 at the 2025 Keeneland September yearling sale.
Domain Expansion Eyes BC Juvenile Fillies
After springing a 14-1 upset in the Grade II Oak Leaf Stakes for 2-year-old fillies going 1 1/16 miles Saturday, Domain Expansion was bright and alert and taking in the proceedings at trainer Leonard Powell's barn Sunday morning.
"She came out of the race extremely well," Powell said. "We're very happy with her performance."
In the Oak Leaf, Domain Expansion stalked the pace while saving ground along the rail under Adrian Escobedo, was angled out widest of all for clear racing room entering the stretch and stormed to the wire to win going away by seven lengths. Her winning time of 1:37.94 earned a solid 88 Beyer Speed Figure.
With the win, Domain Expansion also locked up a fees-paid berth to the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies on Oct. 30 at Keeneland. Powell said that it's "more than likely" that's where she'll go next.
"She's only had two starts so it won't be an easy feat when you compare it to some of the other fillies that have more experience, but she showed yesterday that she belongs," Powell said.
The Oak Leaf was just the second start and first victory for Domain Expansion. On Sept. 5 at Del Mar, she debuted going one mile on turf and finished second by 1 1/4 lengths after rallying from well back. Powell explained why he ran her on grass first time out.
"The thing is I didn't want to run her short, I wanted to run her long. I think that first time out, if you're going to go long, it's much easier to go on turf rather than dirt," Powell said. "But physically and pedigree-wise, I never thought dirt would be a problem."
For Powell, who is most noted for his work with turf horses, the Oak Leaf was just his second graded stakes win on dirt. In 2018, he saddled Beach View to a victory in the GIII Cougar II Handicap at Del Mar. In 2008, Powell also won the GIII Tokyo City Handicap with Niagara Causeway when the Santa Anita main track was an all-weather surface.
"This shows that if we have the horse, we can do it," Powell said.
Domain Expansion would be his fourth Breeders' Cup starter for Powell, a 50-year-old native of France. His best Breeders' Cup finish came in 2017 when France-bred Fatale Bere finished fifth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.
Domain Expansion is the first graded stakes winner for freshman sire Speaker's Corner, who most notably in 2022 won the Grade I Carter Handicap at Aqueduct. Domain Expansion is owned by California Racing Partners, Ciaglia Racing, Allen R. Keith and Kevin O'Donnell. She was purchased at last year's Keeneland September yearling sale for $130,000.
"With this filly, from the beginning when started working her, she showed she breathed different air," Powell said.
The Oak Leaf was also the first graded stakes win for Escobedo, a 39-year-old native of Zacatecas, Mexico. According to Equibase, Escobedo has won 106 races in North America since 2021. The Oak Leaf was his first win in five mounts at the current Santa Anita Autumn meet.
"It feels amazing," Escobedo said from the winner's circle Saturday. "This filly, she is just getting started. Hopefully we can go far with her. Thanks to everyone for the opportunity. Let's go do this."
Gold Phoenix Works Towards Potential Start in BC Turf
Grade I-winning multi-millionaire Gold Phoenix worked for the second time since finishing fourth in the Del Mar Handicap on Aug. 29. The aspirant for the Breeders' Cup Turf was clocked going five furlongs on the synthetic training track in 1:00.8.
Gold Phoenix had won back-to-back graded stakes before being upended in the 1 3/8-mile Del Mar Handicap. He finished fourth but only beaten about one length.
Earlier this week, trainer Phil D'Amato said Gold Phoenix was doing well "and we're just looking to see if he's fresh as a daisy and ready to go, then we'll go to the Breeders' Cup. If he needs more time, we'll wait for the marathon at Del Mar (the GII Hollywood Turf Cup on Nov. 27)."
Multiple graded stakes winner Queen Maxima worked for the first time since returning from a summer break at Kingfisher Farms in Solvang, Calif. Trained by Jeff Mullins, Queen Maxima worked three furlongs on the synthetic training track in 36.0 seconds.
Mullins said Queen Maxima returned to Santa Anita about 30 days ago. The 6-year-old mare by Bucchero hasn't started since May 16 when she won the Mizdirection Stakes on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita.
Also rejoining Mullins barn after a summer break at Kingfisher Farms was Intrepido, winner of last year's GI American Pharoah at Santa Anita, Intrepido hasn't started since finishing 16th in the Kentucky Derby on May 2 at Churchill Downs. Mullins said he arrived back at Santa Anita about two weeks ago.
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