Hughes Leads Baffert Breeders' Cup Workers at Churchill

With the Breeders' Cup World Championships just days away, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert sent out four contenders for their final works Oct. 25 at Churchill Downs, including grade 1 winners Explora (4 furlongs in: 48), Hughes (4 furlongs in: 47 1/5), and Miss Monica (4 furlongs in :47), along with undefeated Salahudin (4 furlongs in :47). Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman's Explora breezed with Jose Ortiz aboard as she prepares for the $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1). The 3-year-old filly won the Test Stakes (G1) this summer at Saratoga Race Course before finishing a close second in the Dogwood Stakes (G3) Sept. 19 at Churchill Downs. "She cruised around there really nicely," Baffert said. "Jose has been on her and working her all along. It's a tough race and she'll have to step up, but I like the way she's going into it." Hughes, who has won all four of his starts by a combined 24 1/2 lengths, breezed with Rafael Bejarano aboard. The 2-year-old son of Into Mischief is one of two Baffert trainees pre-entered in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) with victories in the Del Mar Futurity (G1) and American Pharoah Stakes (G1). "Rafael worked him last week for me as well," Baffert said. "When I work him, I always keep a horse on his outside just to keep him engaged. By himself, he can be a little lazy. He gets over the ground really well. He's very athletic." Hughes is owned by the large partnership of Front Row Club, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Bashor Racing, Albaugh Family Stables, Robert Masterson, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan. Pegram, Watson and Weitman's Miss Monica, who is undefeated in two starts, breezed with retired jockey Joe Talamo in the saddle. The daughter of Early Voting will attempt two turns for the first time in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) Oct. 30 following a 6 1/4-length victory in the Sept. 5 Del Mar Debutante (G1). "The two turns, we don't know that yet, but I haven't seen any signs she won't like it," Baffert said. Zedan Racing Stables' Salahudin completed Baffert's Sunday workers with a solo half-mile move in :47 under Florent Geroux. The 2-year-old son of Uncle Mo is undefeated in three starts, most recently winning the Iroquois Stakes (G3) Sept. 12 at Churchill Downs. "Usually I work him in company, and Irad (Ortiz Jr.) has been on him for me," Baffert said. "He was working him behind horses because he knows he's not that quick away from the gate. He's got a beautiful way of going. We wish the race was here at Churchill. He really likes this place but he's a horse that's getting better. Every week he's blossoming." Geroux returned to the saddle Oct. 24 after being sidelined for seven weeks with six broken ribs. He rode Salahudin in his first two starts at Ellis Park before Jose Ortiz took over for his victory in the Iroquois while Geroux was sidelined. Baffert has not yet named a rider for Salahudin in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Rhetorical Works Half-Mile Also breezing Sunday was Gary Barber, Cheyenne Stable, and Wachtel Stable's Rhetorical, who worked a half-mile on his own in :49 1/5 for trainer Will Walden. The 5-year-old gelding, who finished fourth in last year's Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) at Del Mar, will return for another attempt in the $2 million race following his second consecutive victory in the Turf Mile Stakes (G1T) Oct. 3 at Keeneland. Earlier this year, Rhetorical won the Turf Classic Stakes (G1T) on Kentucky Derby Day at Churchill Downs. "We'll ship to Keeneland tomorrow. He'll walk or jog before heading over there," Walden said. "It'll be business as usual as far as training goes into the race. I think he's going into the race this year with a little more poise than he did last year. He's a little more relaxed when he needs to be." Entries for the 43rd Breeders' Cup World Championships will be taken Oct. 26. All domestic Breeders' Cup runners must arrive at Keeneland by 11 a.m. Oct. 27.