Hughes delivered the performance expected of a 1 to 5 favorite on Sunday, September 6, drawing away to win the Grade 1, $300,000 Del Mar Futurity by 4 3/4 lengths and giving trainer Bob Baffert a record extending 20th victory in the race.
The Into Mischief colt completed seven furlongs in 1:22.57 under Juan Hernandez and remained unbeaten through two starts. Phone Booth finished second, with Dang Son third.
Hughes turns a short field into a statement
The Del Mar Futurity drew only five runners, but it still offered Hughes a meaningful test after his impressive maiden victory. Rather than simply adding another win, he separated himself decisively from the field and was eased late after establishing control.
That progression matters for a juvenile whose reputation was already growing before Sunday. OTB Bet’s Del Mar Futurity preview centered on whether Hughes could justify his status as the horse to beat. He answered that question emphatically.
Baffert reaches 20 Del Mar Futurity wins
The result also added another extraordinary number to Bob Baffert’s record with 2 year olds at Del Mar. His 20th Del Mar Futurity victory extends a mark no other trainer is close to matching.
Baffert had won the race 19 times entering Sunday, including with champions and major stars such as Silver Charm, American Pharoah, Lookin At Lucky and Game Winner. Hughes now joins that long line of successful juveniles, though his future accomplishments will determine how he ultimately compares with the stable’s most accomplished Futurity winners.
Hernandez, meanwhile, earned his 12th stakes victory of the meet with the win.
Where Hughes fits in the juvenile picture
The Futurity is an important West Coast measuring point for 2 year olds, but the larger championship picture is still developing. Hughes now has two dominant wins and a Grade 1 on his résumé, which makes his next start especially significant as connections consider the path toward longer races.
The division’s late season focus eventually turns to the 2026 Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland, where the championship juvenile races will be held October 30 and 31.
Del Mar’s weekend also produced another unbeaten Baffert juvenile at Grade 1 level. Miss Monica won Saturday’s Del Mar Debutante by 6 1/4 lengths; see OTB Bet’s Del Mar Debutante recap for that result.
Verified from Del Mar Thoroughbred Club’s official September 6 race report. Featured image: Jin Woo Lee via Unsplash, used under the Unsplash License; image is illustrative and does not depict Hughes or the Del Mar Futurity.
