Hughes the sixth Grade 1 winner of the year for Into Mischief

Hughes became the 101^st lifetime graded winner for Into Mischief with a dominant performance in the $300,000 Del Mar Futurity (G1) on Sept. 6 at the southern California seaside track.

A TDN ‘Rising Star’ following his June 21 debut, Hughes backed up that noteworthy accomplishment with a 7 ¾-length win in the Aug. 8 Best Pal S. (G3), also at Del Mar.

The bay colt was arguably even more impressive in Sunday’s seven-furlong contest. He dueled with High Pronto down the backstretch and into the turn before taking over midway on the bend. Phone Booth snuck up the inside to briefly contend, but Hughes shook him off easily in upper stretch and won going away.

“He sat off the speed horse,” said trainer Bob Baffert. “We knew the inside horse was really fast. Juan said if he had gone to the lead, they would have gone faster, so he relaxed. We’re still learning about these horses. He’s the kind of horse who does most of his running at the end, which is what you like to see and he was taking off at the end.”

Hughes is owned by the conglomerate of Front Row Club LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Bashor Racing LLC, Albaugh Family Stables, LLC, Robert E. Masterson, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital LLC and Catherine Donovan. He has won $300,000 in his three starts. The bay colt was bred in Kentucky by Breffni Farm.