Churchill Downs Update: Baffert Sends Out Four Breeders' Cup Contenders for Final Works Sunday at Churchill Downs

Oct 25, 2026

With the Breeders’ Cup World Championships just days away, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert sent out four contenders for their final works Sunday morning at Churchill Downs, including Grade I winners Explora (four furlongs, 48), Hughes (four furlongs, :47.20) and Miss Monica (four furlongs, :47), along with undefeated Salahudin (four furlongs, :47).

Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman’s Explora breezed with Jose Ortiz aboard as she prepares for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (GI). The 3-year-old filly won the Test (GI) this summer at Saratoga before finishing a close second in the Dogwood (GIII) on Sept. 19 at Churchill Downs.

“She cruised around there really nicely,” Baffert said. “Jose has been on her and working her all along. It’s a tough race and she’ll have to step up, but I like the way she’s going into it.”

Hughes, who has won all four of his starts by a combined 24 ½ lengths, breezed with Rafael Bejarano aboard. The 2-year-old son of Into Mischief is one of two Baffert trainees pre-entered in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI) with victories in the Del Mar Futurity (GI) and American Pharoah (GI).

“Rafael worked him last week for me as well,” Baffert said. “When I work him, I always keep a horse on his outside just to keep him engaged. By himself, he can be a little lazy. He gets over the ground really well. He’s very athletic.”

Hughes is owned by the large partnership of Front Row Club, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Bashor Racing, Albaugh Family Stables, Robert Masterson, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan.

Pegram, Watson and Weitman’s Miss Monica, who is undefeated in two starts, breezed with retired jockey Joe Talamo in the saddle. The daughter of Early Voting will attempt two turns for the first time in Friday’s $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) following a 6 ¼-length victory in the Del Mar Debutante (GI) on Sept. 5.

“The two turns, we don’t know that yet, but I haven’t seen any signs she won’t like it,” Baffert said.

Zedan Racing Stables’ Salahudin completed Baffert’s Sunday workers with a solo half-mile move in :47 under Florent Geroux. The 2-year-old son of Uncle Mo is undefeated in three starts, most recently winning the Iroquois (GIII) on Sept. 12 at Churchill Downs.

“Usually I work him in company, and Irad (Ortiz Jr.) has been on him for me,” Baffert said. “He was working him behind horses because he knows he’s not that quick away from the gate. He’s got a beautiful way of going. We wish the race was here at Churchill. He really likes this place but he’s a horse that’s getting better. Every week he’s blossoming.”

Geroux returned to the saddle Saturday morning after being sidelined for seven weeks with six broken ribs. He rode Salahudin in his first two starts at Ellis Park before Jose Ortiz took over for his victory in the Iroquois (GIII) while Geroux was sidelined. Baffert has not yet named a rider for Salahudin in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

Also breezing Sunday was Gary Barber, Cheyenne Stable and Wachtel Stable’s Rhetorical, who worked a half-mile on his own in :49.20 for trainer Will Walden.

The 5-year-old gelding, who finished fourth in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Mile (GI) at Del Mar, will return for another attempt in the $2 million race following his second consecutive victory in the Coolmore Turf Mile (GI) on Oct. 3 at Keeneland. Earlier this year, Rhetorical won the Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic (GI) on Kentucky Derby Day at Churchill Downs.

“We’ll ship to Keeneland tomorrow. He’ll walk or jog before heading over there,” Walden said. “It’ll be business as usual as far as training goes into the race. I think he’s going into the race this year with a little more poise than he did last year. He’s a little more relaxed when he needs to be.”

Entries for the 43rd Breeders’ Cup World Championships will be taken Monday. All domestic Breeders’ Cup runners must arrive at Keeneland by 11 a.m. Tuesday.

In total, 22 horses who were pre-entered in the Breeders’ Cup are based at Churchill Downs or Trackside Louisville, its training facility located approximately five miles from the main track (with trainer and first preference Breeders’ Cup race): Built (Wayne Catalano, Sprint); Doncho (Michelle Lovell, Turf Sprint); Evanescence (Eddie Kenneally, Filly & Mare Sprint); Explora (Bob Baffert, Filly & Mare Sprint); Facteur Cheval (Mark Casse, Mile); Foie Gras (Mike Maker, Filly & Mare Sprint); Foxiest (Brad Cox, Juvenile Fillies); Further Ado (Brad Cox, Classic); Hughes (Bob Baffert, Juvenile); Let Em Know (Whit Beckman, Juvenile Turf); Manuka Honey (Brian Lynch, Juvenile Fillies); Minaret Station (Will Walden, Turf); Miss Monica (Bob Baffert, Juvenile Fillies); Nooni (Bob Baffert, Filly & Mare Sprint); Owen Almighty (Brian Lynch, Dirt Mile); Regaled (Whit Beckman, Distaff); Rhetorical (Will Walden, Mile); Salahudin (Bob Baffert, Juvenile); Scarlett Begonia (Brad Cox, Juvenile Fillies); Seneca Park (Dallas Stewart, Juvenile Fillies Turf); Splendora (Bob Baffert, Distaff); and Stellify (Brad Cox, Filly & Mare Turf).

DOWN THE STRETCH – Live racing resumed Sunday at Churchill Downs for Stars of Tomorrow I. First post was 1 p.m. … The first pool of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager runs Wednesday-Friday and will close just prior to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI). The field of up to 40 betting interests will be released on Monday. … “Inside Churchill Downs” will air a special Breeders’ Cup preview Thursday from 7-8 p.m. on ESPN Louisville. Those outside the Louisville area can listen anytime on the “Inside the Kentucky Derby” podcast, that’s available on all major streaming platforms. … Following dark days Monday and Tuesday, live racing at Churchill Downs resumes Wednesday and Thursday ahead of Friday and Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Keeneland. Following the Breeders’ Cup, action resumes at Churchill on Sunday, Nov. 1.