On October 3, 2026, the two-year-old colt Hughes won the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes by six lengths, remaining undefeated at four wins..
Ridden by Juan Hernandez and trained by Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, the Into Mischief colt handled his two-turn debut in the 1 1/16-mile dirt event with ease. He settled comfortably in third place early on, trailing pacesetter Net Par. As they approached the far turn, Hughes moved three-wide and pulled ahead effortlessly in the stretch, ultimately stopping the clock at 1:43.22 while being eased down late. His performance earned him a 100 Beyer Speed Figure.
With this impressive victory, Hughes secured an automatic, fees-paid entry into the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Keeneland and earned 10 qualifying points on the Road to the 2027 Kentucky Derby.
- Winning Horse: Hughes (by Into Mischief)
- Trainer: Bob Baffert; Jockey: Juan Hernandez
- Track / Distance: Santa Anita Park / 1 1/16 miles (Dirt)
- Winning Margin / Time: 6 lengths / 1:43.22
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