Story by
Breeders' Cup Notes: Hughes Looks To Emulate Namesake In World Championships
- Story by
- Breeders' Cup Notes: Hughes Looks To Emulate Namesake In World Championships
FANDUEL BREEDERS' CUP MILE
Notable Speech –Godolphin's reigning FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) champ Notable Speech blew out a quarter-mile on Thursday at 9 a.m. on the Keeneland dirt for trainer Charlie Appleby. Ridden by Colm O'Donaghue, the 5-year-old son of Dubawi stretched out impressively over a surface that was naturally foreign to him, though one would not know it by watching his action.
Advertisement
"That was good; he looked great out there," Appleby said. "Colm was so impressed that he said after that maybe we should have been running him on the dirt.
"We went a bit steady yesterday on the turf, just on the outside, which was a little bit rough," Appleby explained. "We just wanted to make sure he used himself this morning. That's what he did and we're happy with him."
Taking to the dirt should not be a surprise, given sire Dubawi has sired multiple G1 winners on the dirt, while dam Swift Rose, a winner on Wolverhampton all-weather on debut, was second in the UAE Oaks (G3) and fifth in the UAE Derby (G2) in 2019.
Ask Ikigomi –Ask Ikigomi wasn't assured a spot in Saturday's $2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) until Wednesday, but trainer Hideaki Fujiwara has had the race in mind for months.
Advertisement
The Japanese 3-year-old drew into the field following the defection of Zulu Kingdom, giving the lightly raced colt an opportunity to test himself against older horses in just his fourth career start.
Ask Ikigomi won his first two starts, including the Churchill Downs Cup (G3) at Hanshin Racecourse, before finishing a narrow second in the NHK Mile Cup (G1) at JRA Tokyo Racecourse in his most recent outing.
"When the owner bought him, he spoke as if this race had already been in mind from the time the horse was a foal, so it is very satisfying to see that idea become reality," Fujiwara said.
The trainer initially targeted the NHK Mile Cup after identifying the colt's potential as a miler. His runner-up finish in that race convinced Fujiwara that Ask Ikigomi might be ready for an international challenge.
Advertisement
"He was beaten only narrowly in the NHK Mile Cup, but I thought he ran very well," Fujiwara said. "The horse who beat him then ran very well again next time, so I think that gave us confidence in our own horse as well."
With limited opportunities for a 3-year-old miler in Japan without facing older horses, Fujiwara suggested an ambitious alternative to the owner.
"At first he was surprised and said, 'The Breeders' Cup?' But I told him I thought we could be competitive, and he agreed," Fujiwara said.
Jockey Ryusei Sakai, who guided Ask Ikigomi to victory in the Churchill Downs Cup in just the colt's second career start, shares the trainer's confidence in his potential.
Advertisement
"Even so, the fact that he was able to win a graded race showed me just how much ability he had," Sakai said. "He was still immature at the time, which also made me feel there was plenty of room for improvement and that he had a lot of potential."
The trainer was also pleased with Ask Ikigomi's post position after drawing gate five.
"We really wanted an inside draw because this horse has tactical speed, so from that standpoint I think post five is an excellent gate," Fujiwara said.
Sakai expects to take a patient approach against the more seasoned competition.
"He is still lightly raced and he is a 3-year-old taking on strong older horses," Sakai said. "He isn't particularly quick from the gate either, so I don't expect us to secure a very prominent position. If we can settle in while keeping an eye on the horses who want to go forward, that would probably be ideal."
Advertisement
With defending Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner Forever Young leading another strong Japanese contingent at this year's Championships, Fujiwara hopes Ask Ikigomi can add to his country's growing international success.
"Everyone here is being inspired by a superstar like Forever Young, and we are working with the determination to get closer to that level ourselves," Fujiwara said. "I hope everyone in Japan will be cheering for us."
Deterministic –With 10 victories in a remarkably consistent career record of 17 starts, trainer Miguel Clement considers his stable star to be a superb talent who may be underappreciated.
"He's amazingly special because mentally he's remarkable," Clement said. "That a horse could be at that level and he's never worried, frazzled, anxious, or misbehaves mentally, he's remarkable. He has a high cruising speed. He's athletic, and he's the most efficient mover. And I believe between those traits is what makes him separate himself from any horse in North America."
Advertisement
Clement believes that Deterministic should have fared better in the Eclipse Award voting last year when he was a distant fourth behind Notable Speech and two other European-based runners who also won at the Breeders' Cup. Deterministic did not run in the Breeders' Cup after winning three graded stakes, two of them G1.
"He is arguably considered the best turf horse in the country. He's the best North American-based horse," Clement said. "I do think he deserves to be considered the best North American horse. Last year he did not get Eclipse Award and to this day, I still don't think it's fair because he's the best North American turf horse in the country."
Since his switch from dirt to turf in June 2024, the son of Liam's Map has finished in the top three in each of his 12 starts, even one that was rained off the grass. He has won eight times on turf, including a six-race streak that came to an end on Sept. 12 in the Woodbine Mile (G1) when he finished second by 1¼ lengths to Notable Speech. The rivalry between the top horses from two continents will continue on Saturday in the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile Presented by PDJF. Notable Speech, the defending champ will start from Post 8 and is the 7-5 morning line favorite. Deterministic is the 8-1 co-second choice starting from the rail under regular rider Kendrick Carmouche.
"He's going to break and go forward," Clement said. "The question is to what extent he wants to go forward, but he's going forward. That's where Kendrick decides at what point you take back, or even if you take back. But my only instruction to Kendrick will be to break, go forward. He's got to decide the rest."
Advertisement
Deterministic's all-graded races win streak was constructed with back-to-back wins in the Manhattan (G1) and the Fourstardave (G1) and consecutive wins in the Fort Marcy, which was dropped from a G2 to a G3 this year. While normally a stalk-and-pouncing type, he was alone in front in the Woodbine Mile. Notable Speech rolled by him in the stretch and won by 1 ¼ lengths.
"I thought he ran a very good race on that day. Given the conditions, we were second-best," Clement said. "Nevertheless, I'm looking forward to running him at Keeneland. I think two turns would be much better for us. The other day was an oddly-run race in the sense that we were the pacemaker and we were the leader, and we were the target for the other horse. It was pretty much a match race on paper. This would be more of a truly run race and I'm excited."
Deterministic, co-owned by St. Elias Stable, Ken Langone, Steven Duncker, and Federal Reserve Board chairman Kevin Warsh's Vicarage Stable has a deep connection with the Clement family. He was the final graded stakes winner for Clement's father, Christophe, who passed away in May 2025. A few weeks after his father's death and Miguel had taken over the stable, he earned the young trainer his first G1 score in the Manhattan on the Belmont Stakes undercard.
"It will be a very sad day whenever I have a runner, or a horse in the barn that was no longer shared by both my father and I," Clement said. "We are far from that day from happening, but it will be inevitable one day, which is sad. He always has a sentimental attachment to many of us, both in the stables and at home. He was one of the stable favorites. He's bailed us out time and time again when we need him most. Belmont Stakes week last year was a very tough time for both the stable and family and he was able to provide a little bit of happiness in a very dark period of our lives."
Advertisement
Rhetorical –Trainer Will Walden said he received simple instructions – "See if you can get him to the races" – when the son of Not This Time arrived in his barn a couple of years ago.
Mission accomplished. And more. Way more.
During their time together., Rhetorical has compiled a 7-0-2 record from 12 starts and earned $2.5 million in purse money. He was the 2025 New York-bred Horse of the Year. Two of those victories were in the Turf Mile (G1) at Keeneland, a "Win and You're In" race for the Fan Duel Breeders' Cup Mile Presented by the PDJF. Last year, he ended up fourth by two lengths. He will have an opportunity to improve on that finish Saturday at Keeneland.
Rhetorical is the first star developed by Walden, who is now in his fifth season of training. Walden said that Rhetorical has meant "just everything" for his career.
Advertisement
"This is the house that Rhetorical built," Walden said. "It is now and always will be. No matter how long we do this, it'll always be. He's the one that kind of kickstarted and jump started it all, and we owe everything to him."
The changeover from prospect to standout took place in October 2025. After making four of his five career starts in state-bred company. Following his victory in the West Point at Saratoga, Walden decided to take a swing in the Turf Mile. Walden said he had recognized his ability, but did not want to rush Rhetorical.
"I never felt like he was going to stay in New York-bred company for long. I could feel that the talent was so obvious. I just I wanted to take what was given to me freely."
Which was to stay in what is typically less-difficult state-bred races.
Advertisement
"I wanted to try to use the conditions available to me," Walden said, "to give him good experiences and let him develop as a racehorse before throwing him in inevitably, what we knew would probably be for the rest of his career, which is graded company."
It was an ambitious step up, but he was up to the task and prevailed by three-quarters of a length. Following the FanDuel Mile he was off until April 10 when he ran third in the Maker's Mark Mile. On Kentucky Derby Day, he snagged another G1 in the Turf Classic.
At Saratoga this summer, he was fourth in a pair of G1 races, the Manhattan and the Fourstardave.
"He just had a fungal infection," Walden said. "It's not uncommon, but untimely. It kind of destabilizes the foot so we had to put a different shoe on to stabilize it."
Advertisement
Back in Kentucky and with the foot problem behind him, Rhetorical, led at every call to repeat in the Turf Mile. That score put him back in the FanDuel Mile. He will start from Post 9 in the field of 14 under Jose Ortiz, who is replacing his brother, Irad, who will miss the Breeders' Cup with an injury.
BREEDERS' CUP DIRT MILE
Further Ado –Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) entrant Further Ado can sure run well wherever you take him. For example, he is a graded stakes winner at Churchill Downs, and is coming off a strong second in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) at Parx.
But the two most visually-impressive wins of the colt's career have come in his two starts right here at Keeneland. First was the 20-length drubbing of maiden competition in October 2025, as he scored his initial win in his first try around two turns. This spring, he added an 11-length score in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1), earning his career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 106.
Advertisement
"He certainly likes the track for sure," Ned Toffey, general manager for owner Spendthrift Farm, said. "And I think he's a horse who's physically doing well and has filled out and matured this summer. I think he's capable of putting together a real good effort."
Cox echoed praise for the colt who started his campaign in March and is now making his seventh start of the year, spanning five different tracks.
"I'm excited about giving him an opportunity, because, you know, he is one of the 3-year-olds that's started the season [during classics prep season] and still around, and it's hard to do," Cox said. "And it just is a testament to how sound and how good he is."
T Kraft– All week long, there has been a flurry of activity around Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott's Rice Road barn. And for good reason. Sovereignty and Knightsbridge, two of the major players for Saturday's $7 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) have been residing there.
Advertisement
It has also been the temporary home for a 4-year-old colt named T Kraft, who is running in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1).
"He doesn't get much love, does he?" Mott said after his training work was done Thursday morning.
T Kraft, owned by LRE Racing LLC, had his first preference in the six-furlong, $2 million Cygames Breeders' Cup Sprint. Mott decided the Mile was the best spot for him, even though his last race, a win in the Vosburgh Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park, was a "Win and You're In" for the Sprint.
"I really thought those fast sprinters would probably outfoot him, leaving the gate," Mott said. "I think the mile gives him a chance to be in the race a little bit. You do that, you've got to get the trip, you've got to get the mile."
Advertisement
T Kraft, who will be ridden by Junior Alvarado, has only tried the mile once in his life, that coming in his third career start and he was fourth in that maiden race.
PREVAGEN BREEDERS' CUP TURF SPRINT
In Our Time –Six fillies or mares are entered in the Prevagen Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1), including dual graded stakes-winner In Our Time for conditioner Saffie Joseph, Jr.
The 5-year-old daughter of Not This Time enters the Turf Sprint from a strong 3 1/2-length coup in the Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf Sprint (G1) on August 29, her first topflight score in her second attempt. She already holds a graded win over the Keeneland turf after taking the Giant's Causeway (G2) in April off a three-month respite.
Advertisement
"She's very genuine like a lot of the Not This Times – they have a lot of try in them and a lot of class," Joseph, Jr. said.
Owned by Resolute Racing and Miller Racing, In Our Time made her first five outings at sprint distances, stretched out to a mile or more nine of her next 11 starts, and has made her last four appearances back in sprints.
"She liked the cutback and she loves Kentucky Downs. Her second favorite track is probably Keeneland," Joseph, Jr. said. "It's a very tough race and she's facing the boys, but she's a filly where if she gets the right setup, she can get the job done."
Bred in Kentucky by Brian Kahn, In Our Time has banked close to $2 million and looks to land her seventh career victory in the Turf Sprint.
Advertisement
John the Beer Man –Trainer Rob Atras has learned a few things in his nearly two decades of training racehorses. One of them is that plans are often a fickle matter. When a promising gelding named John the Beer Man was ready to return to the races this March after a nearly 2-year layoff, his target race at a route of ground was rained off the turf, forcing him to come back in a sprint instead. Thus began a most welcome – and unexpected – 5-year-old campaign that culminated in an appearance in the Prevagen Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1).
"It's kind of wild," Atras said. "Nothing was planned out like this, but that's horse racing in general. You make a plan, it doesn't always come to (fruition), and things develop over a short period of time that you would never imagine. That's kind of the beauty of the game. You never know when horses can get good and when they can develop, and we were fortunate to get him after he had some time off and matured physically. Everybody who has been involved with this horse has managed him well and have done a good job with him since he was a baby."
Owned by Michael Caruso and Michael Dubb, John the Beer Man got going in early 2024 under the tutelage of conditioner Chad Brown, graduating from off the pace going 1 1/16 miles in the third of three starts before his extended layoff. When he was unintentionally cut back for his return, everything from his running style to his apparent preferred distance was flipped on its head. John the Beer Man led each step of the way with brilliant speed over the Fair Grounds turf, powering away to a 1 1/2-length victory and completing 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:02.34.
"That day I thought that maybe he'd be OK sprinting, but the fact that he showed that kind of speed was definitely a surprise," said Atras, a native of Winnipeg that is now based in New York. "You could just see in the paddock how sharp he was and how game he was. It was like he said, 'I'm back,' and he was really on it."
Advertisement
The chestnut proved his return was no fluke when wiring an optional claiming tilt in April at Aqueduct. Just three starts after reinventing himself as a turf sprint specialist, he proved he belonged in the upper echelon with a narrow third to divisional standouts Reef Runner and Ag Bullet in the Jaipur Stakes (G1) at Saratoga. One race later, he showed grit and determination to make the grade by a head in the Troy Stakes (G2) in August at Saratoga.
Bred in Kentucky by Phipps Stable, John the Beer Man enters the Breeders' Cup from an even seventh in the Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint Stakes (G2), a rare blemish on his 8-4-1-1 record. Atras is drawing a line through that performance, and commented on the ability that the son of More Than Ready has shown this year among the best of the division.
"I really believe that the horse has run some races against top quality turf sprinters this year, and it's been incredible to watch him step up and run against them," said Atras, who looks to win his first Breeders' Cup event. "Every race, we jumped him up and he responded and took the next step. It's really a thing of beauty to watch horses develop like that. I think he always had it in him, but to watch him progress is really something that you don't expect or plan for but hope to achieve."
Sorrento Sky– The honest gelding Sorrento Sky will look to bring his graded stakes win streak to three in-a-row in the Prevagen Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1) for conditioner Phil D'Amato.
Advertisement
The 5-year-old son of Prince of Lir notched one-length scores in a pair of G2s in California this summer and early fall, taking Del Mar's Green Flash Handicap and Santa Anita's Eddie D Stakes. He had placed in two graded stakes as a 4-year-old, and D'Amato said gelding him this spring has made all the difference.
"He has kind of always been right up there in the big races and never got it done, but always was in the mix," D'Amato said. "The owners decided to geld him and see if it gets his mind solely on business and that seems to have really turned him around. Once we gelded him, he's just been all racehorse and has reeled in two wins in-a-row. Hopefully, we can get a third."
Sorrento Sky was bred by Miss Colleen Dwyer and is campaigned by Agave Racing Stable, Benowitz Family Trust, CYBT, McLean Racing Stables, Saul Gevertz, Marc Lantzman and Michael Nentwig.
Time to Dazzle —Longevity is a point of pride for the Mark Casse barn. The stable owns six Breeders' Cup victories, including with Hall of Famer Tepin, who raced from ages 2 to 5 and won the 2015 Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) at age 4; and fellow Eclipse Award champion World Approval, who raced from ages 2 to 6 and won the 2017 Mile at age 5.
Advertisement
Other stable starts have included G1 winner Got Stormy, who also raced until age 6; War of Will, the 2019 Preakness Stakes (G1) winner who was a Grade 1 winner as an older horse; and one of the barn's current favorites, millionaire My Boy Prince, who has won nine stakes races and scored his first graded stakes win this year at age 5.
Casse will saddle four older horses in Breeders' Cup races in Saturday, led by Nitrogen, who is seeking her third championship season in a row as she goes in the Longines Distaff (G1). Meanwhile, the 5-year-old mare Time to Dazzle has seen it all, done it all as she prepares for the Prevagen Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1). Tracy Farmer's mare has earned more than $1.4 million while competing in the United States, Canada, and Saudi Arabia.
"I'm proud of her," Casse said. "This will be her last race. I'm proud of them all. I'm proud of our team."
Time to Dazzle has won three stakes, with, crucially, her two best efforts at Keeneland. She is coming off a repeat win in the Franklin Stakes (G2) on Oct. 11.
Advertisement
BROWN ADVISORY BREEDERS' CUP JUVENILE TURF
Avec Toi –Christopher Head-trained Avec Toi continues to fly under the radar going into the $1 million Brown Advisory Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) for owners Westerberg, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith. The son of No Nay Never drew post 2 of 14 and was assignment morning line odds of 10-1.
"We are still sticking to the plan with him," Head said. "Other than the disappointment of the race, he's tremendous right now and his preparation has been perfect. I can't wait to see him on this track with Flavien Prat. It's going to be fun. The quality of the work he has been doing is so good that we know he is a good horse and will find his way into Group Ones. I wouldn't be here if I didn't have faith in him in running a great race."
Head will have his first Breeders' Cup starter, though he has tried in the past to get here with accomplished sorts. In 2024, Ramatuelle was scratched two days prior to the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) by the veterinarians when the morning-line second choice. That same year, Head nearly brought Prix Marcel Boussac (G1) winner Blue Rose Cen to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1), but decided to skip the race—something connections also did with last year's Prix de la Forêt (G1) winner, Maranoa Charlie, who was under strong consideration, but did not make the trip and was ultimately retired to stud.
Head has big shoes to fill, as his famous father, Freddie, not only won two Miles while riding the great Miesque, but would also go on to train the brilliant Goldikova to three straight wins in that race as part of an impressive 8-3-1-2 World Championships record for the conditioner. Interestingly, a G1-winning horse the elder Head trained while assisted by his son was named With You—the direct translation of Avec Toi.
Oscar– Despite a loss in the Summer (G1) on Sept. 12, trainer Miguel Clement is very enthusiastic about the son of Oscar Performance's chances Friday in the Brown Advisory Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.
Oscar broke his maiden at 1 1/16 miles at Saratoga on Aug. 8 and ran second to Godolphin's Al Hubiada in the one-mile Summer at Woodbine in suburban Toronto. While Al Hubiada isn't in the Juvenile Turf, his rider, William Buick will be…on Oscar.
"I thought he ran very well in Canada," Clement said. "I think he has the most perfect progression leading into the Breeders' Cup. Visually, he was dazzling on his debut. He was professional. Waiting in the pocket. Listened. He was right on cue. The form of the race has really worked out.
"Then in Canada, he ran yet again another gallant race. The horse who beat him has had to make five or six starts. He's a very good horse for Godolphin from Europe, and had a lot more experience than us. I thought Oscar ran a terrific race to be second in a Grade 1 in his second start. I think he's taking another step forward from the second start to what will be his third start. And if I was a gambling man, which I'm not, but if I was a punter, he'd be the one I'd be most bullish about in terms of his odds. I think he's going to way outrun his odds."
Oscar, co-owned by Elements Racing and Hoolie Racing Stable, is 15-1 on the morning line. The task will be a bit more difficult, Clement acknowledged, when Oscar drew Post 12.
"We got a bit of an abysmal post," Clement said. "Fortunately, we have a top-class jockey in William Buick and it's up to him to figure it out."
Clement chuckled as he described how he arranged what will be Buick's first ride for his stable.
"Mr. Buick beat me in so many Grade 1s in the last six weeks. I think the stable ran three or four times second in a Grade 1 to Godolphin. What's the expression? If you can't beat them, join them. I think it's true. Tawny Port was second in Canadian International. Deterministic was second the Woodbine Mile. Oscar was second the Summer. We ran second to Godolphin in three or four Grade 1s in just the last five or six weeks."
Clement has a long connection with Buick, who has 10 wins in Breeders' Cup races.
"I know him well from my days back to being an assistant in England," Clement said, "as well as my days in Dubai as an assistant. I'm very familiar with Buick."
FANDUEL BREEDERS' CUP JUVENILE
Hughes– When the young horse, a $675,000 Into Mischief colt purchased at the 2025 Keeneland Yearling Sale by agent Donato Lanni on behalf of a syndicate, came into the lap of Tom Ryan, the first order of business was finding a name for the new thoroughbred.
Ryan, the manager of Front Row Club LLC, had watched the 2026 Winter Olympics and, like everyone else, was overjoyed when Team USA defeated Canada in the gold medal hockey game. The overtime game winner was scored by a new national hero, Jack Hughes.
After watching that game, Ryan was determined to name a horse Hughes. And here he is, the even-money morning line favorite for Friday's $2 million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1).
"Really, it's a name I have had up my sleeve for a couple years," Ryan said.
Hockey has been in Ryan's family. The father of his wife, Katie, is Pat Hughes, who won three Stanley Cups two with the Edmonton Oilers (1984-85) and one with the Montreal Canadiens (1979). Her uncle, Mark Napier, was on two Stanley Cup winners, the Canadiens in '79 and the Oilers in '85.
After the Olympics, he was sold on honoring Jack Hughes. Ryan has had a horse named for a hockey player before, that being Messier – for NHL Hall of Famer Mark Messier – who ran from 2021-24 and won four of 15 starts and made it to the 2022 Kentucky Derby (G1). Hughes, like Messier, is trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert.
"When Jack Hughes won the Olympics and then his inspiring speech right after, speaking about his love for America, I immediately said, 'this is the right time," Ryan said about bestowing the moniker on the horse."
Jack Hughes, who plays for the NHL's New Jersey Devils, does know about the horse. Through the Devils, Jack Hughes said that he was honored that his name was chosen for the horse and hopes he continues his "winning ways."
Hughes has won all four of his starts by a combined 24½ lengths.
Ryan said he invited Jack Hughes to come to the Breeders' Cup, but he had to decline because the Devils are playing in Las Vegas on Friday night.
"At some point next year, hopefully we can introduce him to the horse and the horse to him,"
Ryan said. "All sports need crossovers and horse racing maybe needs it more than most."
Hughes could also be a nod to the late B. Wayne Hughes, who owned Spendthrift Farm from 2004 until his death at age 87.
One thing Ryan wanted to make sure of was having a horse with a recognizable name being a horse with talent. So far, so good.
Hughes has done hardly anything wrong on his way to his glossy record.
"I don't know how good he has but he has so much athleticism," Baffert said. "He just runs over the top of the ground."
"He kind of skates over the track," said Ryan, who admits he doesn't know one end of a hockey stick to the other. "He looks like a forward going for a goal. He just moves so effortlessly. It's lovely to see and we feel very fortunate to have him. I am glad the horse has lived up the expectations of the name so far."
Salahudin– The second of the Baffert FanDuel Juvenile runners and perhaps he has taken a backseat to his more ballyhooed stablemate Hughes. But, make no mistake, Salahudin, a son of Uncle Mo, can run.
In his three starts, he has three wins and has increased in distance each time. Six and a half furlongs to start the career at Ellis Park, seven furlongs in the Ellis Park Juvenile Stakes and a mile in Churchill Downs' Iroquois Stakes (G3).
Baffert thinks the best is yet to come.
"He improves in every race," Baffert said outside his Rice Road barn. "His training is improving. He is a chill, classy, beautiful moving horse, the kind of horse you want for the Kentucky Derby at 1 ¼ miles. They (Hughes) both have the 'it' factor."
In his three starts, Salahudin, who is 6-1 on the Juvenile morning line set by David Aragona, has won by a combined seven lengths.
Still, the boss sees room for improvement.
"He does not break very well, that is just him," Baffert said. "He is a big, lumbering horse and it takes him a few jumps to get his legs underneath him."
Salahudin will be ridden for the first time by Tyler Gaffalione. Florent Geroux was aboard the first two starts but was injured in a Sept. 10 spill at Churchill Downs that resulted in broken ribs and internal injuries.
Jose Ortiz rode Salahudin in the Iroquois but is the regular rider of Juvenile rival Coach Pope.
Irad Ortiz Jr. had been working Salahudin and was slated to ride in the Juvenile, but he broke his left ankle a week ago at Keeneland.
"I feel for all the jockeys, it's been a tough year for them," Baffert said. "It's a tough occupation they're in. They are all good guys; they work hard and are fearless."
BREEDERS' CUP JUVENILE FILLIES
Scarlett Begonia –Scarlett Begonia is one of the longer shots on the morning line for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). However, she has kept strong company throughout her career – including against a fellow Juvenile Fillies entrant – that hints at latent talent, if she can unlock it.
Hat Creek Racing, Ashview Farm, and Upland Flats Racing's filly won her debut sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs this summer at Ellis Park. Runner-up Miss Anna came back to flatter the effort by winning her next outing. Meanwhile, Scarlett Begonia went on to finish third in the Adirondack Stakes (G3) sprinting at Saratoga. The winner, Stress Relief, recently won the Myrtlewood Stakes at Keeneland. Meanwhile, runner-up Luminous Beauty is graded stakes-placed against colts, and will draw in to Friday's John Deere Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1).
Most recently, Scarlett Begonia won the battle, but lost the war in the Pocahontas Stakes (G3) while stretching out to a one-turn mile at Churchill Downs. She was part of a pressured pace, and while others backed out, Scarlett Begonia made the lead in the stretch before being overhauled by Manuka Honey – a multiple stakes winner who also starts in the Juvenile Fillies.
"I thought she ran a really good race last time in Pocahontas, and she got pressured pretty much the whole way up the backside into the turn and never gave way," trainer Brad Cox said. "We're hoping that she can get a nice trip where she's not going quite as quick. We don't expect to be going quite as quick, and that'll help her finish up and hopefully handle the distance."
JOHN DEERE BREEDERS' CUP JUVENILE FILLIES TURF
Amusingly– Juddmonte's Amusingly is already a G1 winner and has beaten the boys at the top level, yet the depth of this year's $1 million John Deere Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) is so cavernous that she is not even the market or morning-line favorite. That role goes to Coolmore-owned and Aidan O'Brien-trained three-time G1 winner, Sun Goddess—a rival the blue-blooded daughter of No Nay Never must topple in order to get her proverbial and literal flowers on Friday. Amusingly, 2-for-3 lifetime, is the 7/2 second choice on the morning line to Sun Goddes' 6-5.
In addition to class, the daughter of Oasis Dream mare Joyeuse—a half-sister to the great Frankel—must prove she can handle the one-mile distance, a trip that resulted in her only loss from three starts, a neck second in Longchamp's Prix d'Aumale (G2) in early September. She returned next out to wallop the boys in Arc Day's Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère (G1), a race in which she defeated Folsom Blues, one of the favorites for Friday's Brown Advisory Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1).
"I think she can stay a mile here in America and the key is the early part of the race, to have her relaxed," said trainer Francis-Henri Graffard, who is fresh off his second consecutive victory in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) with Daryz. "Hopefully she can settle. She has an amazing turn-of-foot. It's different, the mile here, and it's only her fourth race on the year. She's in very good shape, so I just cross my fingers. We break outside Sun Goddess and I will speak with (jockey) Colin (Keane) about this. It's very hard to win these races, but I have a very good filly and whatever she does on Friday will be beneficial for next year.
"The way she won at Longchamp, she proved that she's a very good filly," he said. "That run in the Lagardere was so impressive and I was relieved that I made the right decision for the filly to run there. She's a beautifuly filly and she's bred to be a champion."
Sun Goddess– At an impressive 121, Sun Goddess is the top-rated 2-year-old filly ever to make the trip over from Europe for the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1). Seen as an absolute star overseas and the champion juvenile filly-elect, she earned that reputation with six wins from eight starts, including her last five races.
Within that time, she rattled off wins in the Airlie Stud (G2) over six furlongs in late June, followed by a defeat of the boys (including G1 Brown Advisory Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf second-favorite Folsom Blues) in the Phoenix Stakes (G1) over the same distance at The Curragh. She then went to the prestigious Yorkshire Ebor meeting and ran in the Goffs Million (Aug. 20), a lucrative sale graduate-restricted race in which she defied a traffic-filled trip to win by a widening six lengths, an effort that preceded two more G1 wins—the seven-furlong Moyglare Stud over Irish Champions Weekend (Sept. 13) and Newmarket's six-furlong Cheveley Park (Sept. 26), a race won by the Aidan O'Brien-trained Lake Victoria two years ago before she won the Juvenile Fillies Turf.
For context, Sun Goddess, who was purchased at Goffs for a bargain $161,739, is already rated two pounds higher than Lake Victoria ever was, much less when a 2-year-old, and seven pounds superior to 2022 winner Meditate when she came into the Breeders' Cup and won this race for the same connections.
"We could have taken in the Fillies' Mile on the way, but the lads decided to keep her fresh and bring her here for this," O'Brien explained. "Obviously, we know in a race anything can happen and there's no such thing as a certainty; so many variables we can't control. But she is very unique, we believe, and we have seen it in her ability, beating the colts and she has a great mind. She's very relaxed and has a long stride. She opens up and gets into that rhythm and just keeps coming. She's a very beautiful filly and I think it's great for everyone who wanted to see her run can see her run here."
The daughter of Sioux Nation was assigned morning-line odds of 6-5 and will break from post 9 of 14 under Ryan Moore.
"She is very unusual in everything she does," O'Brien continued. "She gallops more like a cheetah, rather than a racehorse. She gets down low and as you ask her, she gives you more. It's very unusual.
"I hope everything goes right for her," he concluded. "We don't ever expect, but we always hope. If it works out, it would be lovely. It's great to have her here at this time of year for everyone to see—before she goes away for the winter. She looks like a filly who will have no problem getting a mile and she finished strong going seven furlongs at The Curragh in a strongly run race and got the trip very well. I hope she gets to run and we get to see what she can do. It could be exciting and something to look forward to."
This story was originally published by Paulick Report on Oct 29, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Paulick Report as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
