The quest for two-year-old supremacy moves to Keeneland next Friday as the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile serves as the defining moment for the nation’s top young colts. Contested over 1 1/16 miles, the race has historically acted as a coronation for the eventual divisional champion. Pre-entries announced on Wednesday reveal a competitive roster of young males, headlined by the undefeated Hughes, who enters as the heavy favorite for trainer Bob Baffert.
Hughes, currently 6-5 on the morning line, has been perfect through four career starts in Southern California. The Baffert trainee has won his races by a staggering combined margin of more than 24 lengths, showcasing a dominant turn of foot that has eluded his peers thus far. However, the Juvenile will provide a fresh set of challenges for the frontrunner, as he leaves his home base for the first time and prepares to face a significantly deeper field than the six-horse groups he has encountered previously.
Baffert, who has already secured six victories in this specific event among his 21 total Breeders’ Cup wins, also saddles Salahudin. At 6-1, Salahudin remains undefeated and is already a graded stakes winner. While some analysts question the quality of competition Salahudin has faced despite his perfect record, his presence provides Baffert with a powerful second option should the early pace in the Keeneland stretch favor a closer.
Standing in the way of a Baffert sweep is Todd Pletcher, a four-time winner of the Juvenile who took the prize last year with Ted Noffey. Pletcher returns with American History (9-2), a colt who already boasts a proven affinity for the Keeneland surface. Having won the Breeders’ Futurity at this track and distance, American History has demonstrated a powerful closing kick. Jockey John Velazquez will likely look for a contested early pace to set up the colt’s late rally. Pletcher also pre-entered Damavand (20-1), a long shot who recently broke his maiden over the Keeneland track and has shown grit in his first attempts at two-turn racing.
Coach Pope, trained by Kenny McPeek, enters at 4-1 following a runner-up finish to American History in the Breeders’ Futurity. Though he was beaten that day, Coach Pope was involved in a speed duel and held on gamely for second. If jockey Jose Ortiz can get the colt to relax in the early stages, he is considered a primary contender to reverse the result from their last meeting.
The field also features several mid-range threats looking to play the role of spoiler. Gaudreau (8-1), trained by Chad Brown, comes off a game second-place effort behind the highly regarded U.S.S. Valor in his stakes debut. Having already won a high-quality maiden race earlier this year, Gaudreau has the tactical speed to stay near the lead, though he must now prove he can handle the added distance of two turns. He Is No Lie (15-1), a battle-tested runner for trainer Doug O’Neill, brings experience from three different tracks and several stakes appearances into the gate.
Rounding out the anticipated field is Earth Song (30-1), a Jorge Delgado trainee who struggled with a difficult trip in the Champagne Stakes but showed significant talent in a lopsided debut win at Monmouth Park. The field was reduced by one following the scratch of Net Par.
Since its inception in 1984, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile has been a springboard for future legends, with a winner’s list that includes icons such as Arazi, Uncle Mo, Street Sense, and Nyquist. The official post-position draw is scheduled for Monday, which will further dictate the tactical approach for the nine young colts vying for the $2 million prize and a permanent place in racing history.
