Expert Pick of the Week: 2026 Del Mar Futurity

Sep 03, 2026 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

A compact field of five two-year-old horses will speed seven panels on the dirt in Sunday’s $300,000 Del Mar Futurity (G1). Conditioner Doug O’Neill has three of the entrants in the feature, and Bob Baffert has the other pair, and I think that the latter trainer has a star in the making in the unbeaten Hughes.

Purchased for a hefty $675,000 at the 2025 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, the son of perennially leading sire Into Mischief made his first run on the Los Alamitos dirt on June 21 and rolled home to a six-length win as the heavy favorite while running five furlongs. The Kentucky-bred moved up to six panels at Del Mar on Aug. 8 and was arguably more impressive the second time out when drawing off to a facile, 7 3/4-length score in the Best Pal (G3).

Hughes has plenty of room for improvement with just a pair of starts under his belt, and the exciting prospect posted a pair of solid morning moves in advance of his Grade 1 debut, as well. His 100 Brisnet Speed rating towers over the field, and the February foal is also as quick as any other runner in the field out of the gate. I envision him pressing the pace from second early on without being asked, prior to opening up a comfortable edge in the lane with Juan Hernandez retaining the ride.

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Baffert’s Domus might be the biggest wildcard in the field with just one run to his credit in preparation for Sunday. Sent off as the 3-2 favorite in his first offering on July 25, the homebred son of Uncle Mo led from gate-to-wire when drawing off by 5 ½ lengths under the wire, and the March foal might just be scratching the surface of his abilities.

Domus has trained steadily in the interim with four well-timed morning moves and will be more fit for this heat, too. Antonio Fresu will pick up the mount and ask the nice prospect for speed coming out of the gate.

Expert Pick

An exacta with #4 Hughes on top of #5 Domus in the 2026 Del Mar Futurity is the Best Bet of the Week.