Breeders' Cup Juvenile Entrants Play the Name Game

The Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) is considered a race that will showcase Thoroughbred racing's future stars. But looking over the eight 2-year-olds originally entered in the Oct. 30 race at Keeneland, there's already quite a bit of star power attached to the race. Included in that group is one horse named for a gold-medal-winning United States hockey player with ties to a three-time Stanley Cup champion and one of the sport's most famous owners and breeders; the coach of the University of Kentucky men's basketball team; a seven-time NHL all-star who was killed in a tragic accident; and even one name bearing the name of the conqueror of Jerusalem in 1187. For starters from that group, there's Hughes, the undefeated even-money favorite in the mile-and-a-sixteenth Juvenile. According to ownership group managing partner Tom Ryan of Front Row Club, the name stemmed from watching New Jersey Devils star Jack Hughes celebrating the United States' gold medal hockey victory over Canada at the Winter Olympics earlier this year. "If you go back and listen to Jack's speech about how proud he was to be an American, it was incredibly inspiring and it's what we need in a sports star: a guy that's proud of his country and not afraid to say it," Ryan said. "It was one of those memorable moments in sports history and I went, 'Bang, He's Hughes.'" Ryan actually had reserved the name a few years ago to honor a different Hughes. His wife, Katie, is the daughter of 3-time Stanley Cup champion Pat Hughes, who played in the NHL from 1976-87 and won the Stanley Cup twice with Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier with the Edmonton Oilers and once with Montreal. For Ryan and trainer Bob Baffert, there's even a third association for the two-time grade 1 winner whose owners also include Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Bashor Racing, Albaugh Family Stables, Robert Masterson, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan. Since Hughes is a son of the champion Spendthrift Farm stallion Into Mischief, there's also a tip of the hat to B. Wayne Hughes, the farm's late owner who rejuvenated it into an industry leader. From the Magazine: The Fun Continues "Jack was the catalyst, but Hughes is an Into Mischief colt and it was also in mind to honor Mr. Hughes for all he did for the industry," Ryan said. "Since Hughes became a grade 1 winner, the name has become about B. Wayne Hughes. There's a little bit of it, and the name also pays homage to my father-in-law, but Jack Hughes was what motivated me to use the name." Ryan said having a name associated with a hockey player was fitting after watching the colt move so gracefully on the racetrack. "When you watch the good skaters, they glide over the ice and that's what this horse does," Ryan said. "You watch his races and it's almost like he doesn't touch the ground. It's quite extraordinary and only good horses can do that. He has those mechanics and that motion." The grade 1-placed Coach Pope has a much simpler association. The 4-1 second choice in the Juvenile was named for University of Kentucky men's basketball coach Mark Pope by trainer Ken McPeek. "I've been friends with Mark for the last few years since he came back to coach," McPeek said. "He's excited about it. I'm a big UK fan. Everybody knows that. It's interesting that the horse has turned out so good." McPeek believes Pope will be on hand for Friday's race, much like he was for the Oct. 3 Breeders' Futurity (G1) when Coach Pope finished second by a length. Pope has said that when McPeek called to ask if he could name the colt Coach Pope, McPeek said, "Mark, I just found the most handsome, fastest horse I've ever seen." Coach Pope was second in his career debut at Saratoga Race Course and then earned his maiden by 12 ½ lengths at Churchill Downs. The son of Tapit is owned by Gainesway Stable, Shamrock Stables, and Michael Mackin. Gaudreau, named for the late NHL star Johnny Gaudreau, was entered in the Juvenile but was scratched Oct. 28 due to a fever. Peter Bradley, managing partner of the ownership group, said the naming started with the colt being a son of Nyquist, who was named for NHL star Gustav Nyquist. "Gaudreau was one of the greats who was taken from us too early. It was something we did to honor a colt that we thought had the potential to be a great athlete," Bradley said. Gaudreau won his debut at Saratoga, beating Coach Pope by a half-length. He was then second to U.S.S. Valor in the Champagne Stakes (G1). Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, were killed in a 2024 accident when they were struck by a car while riding bicycles. The man accused of striking the brothers while allegedly driving drunk is facing more than 90 years in jail after pleading not guilty and seeking a trial. Zedan Racing Stables' Salahudin (6-1), winner of the Iroquois Stakes (G3), is named for Salahuddin Ayyub (Saladin), the Muslim military leader who was the first Sultan of Egypt and Syria. Saladin was known for being an expert horseman and polo player, which are two passions for owner Amr Zedan. Finally, with Breeders' Futurity (G1) winner American History (9-2) in the field, a countless amount of famous names can be attached to the son of Constitution, but we will not delve into that.