Which 2-year-old Thoroughbreds delivered the most impressive performances during the 2026 summer season at Del Mar?

Del Mar’s summer meet often yields serious contenders for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships and next year’s Triple Crown races. If the numerous flashy 2-year-old winners we witnessed over the past two months are any indications, that trend will continue.

Here’s how we rank the top five juveniles who competed at Del Mar this summer:

5. Vanta

Vanta looks like a viable contender for the John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf after going 2-for-2 during the summer at Del Mar.

Trained by Jeff Mullins, Vanta debuted in a maiden special weight race sprinting five-eighths of a mile on turf. She dropped 6 1/2 lengths off the early pace and had to be steadied in tight quarters while advancing up the rail around the turn. But in the stretch, she threaded her way through the pack to win by 1 1/4 lengths. According to the Equibase GPS chart, Vanta blazed her final furlong in a terrific :11.03.

Vanta was similarly impressive when stepping up in class and distance for the one-mile Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf Stakes. After settling more than eight lengths off the pace, she clocked her final quarter-mile in an excellent :22.88 to triumph by 2 1/2 lengths.

Vanta’s powerful finishing speed should make her a formidable grass competitor for the foreseeable future.

4. Imperial Honor

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert saddled several notable 2-year-old winners during the Del Mar summer meet, including Imperial Honor, who was purchased for $725,000 at auction earlier this year.

A son of 2020 Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby winner Honor A. P., Imperial Honor ran strongly when debuting in a maiden special weight race sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs Sept. 7. He led all the way through honest fractions of :22.23 and :45.72 to win by 5 1/4 lengths.

Imperial Honor is bred to relish racing a mile and longer, so the fact he won his debut in a sprint is notable. He’s eligible to improve significantly at longer distances, such as the 1 1/16-mile journey of the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance or even the Kentucky Derby’s 1 1/4-mile trip.

3. Inshallah

John Sadler is best known for training Flightline, the unbeaten 2022 Horse of the Year. Now Sadler conditions Inshallah, a chestnut colt by Flightline out of 2017 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint winner Bar of Gold.

Thanks in no small part to his illustrious pedigree, Inshallah sold for $2.1 million as a 2-year-old in training.

Inshallah showed tremendous early speed when debuting in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race, leading by as many as five lengths while setting fast fractions of :21.52 and :44.44. He did grow just a bit leg weary down the homestretch, but he held on to win by 1 1/2 lengths in 1:03.11.

Even though Inshallah’s lead diminished down the stretch, he ran his final three-sixteenths of a mile in a solid :18.67. The future looks bright for this well-bred colt.

2. Miss Monica

Miss Monica, a daughter of 2022 Grade 1 Preakness Stakes winner Early Voting, was the dominant dirt filly of the Del Mar meet, going 2-for-2 for trainer Bob Baffert.

Miss Monica was easily best in her career debut sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs Aug. 9, leading all the way to win by 5 3/4 lengths. She then tackled the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante Stakes at seven-eighths of a mile and rated close behind hot quarter-mile fractions of :21.96 and :44.96 before powering away to triumph by 6 1/4 lengths in 1:23.54.

Two starts, two blowout wins. Miss Monica is shaping up as a leading contender for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

1. Hughes

Hughes wins Del Mar Futurity (Eclipse Sportswire)

Hughes is unbeaten in three starts for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert and ranks among the early favorites for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile after enjoying a productive summer at Del Mar.

A $675,000 yearling acquisition, Hughes debuted in a maiden special weight race dashing five-eighths of a mile at Los Alamitos. He dueled for the lead, then pulled away to crush his rivals by six lengths.

Hughes was every bit as dominant in two starts at Del Mar. In the Grade 3 Best Pal Stakes Aug. 8 dashing three-quarters of a mile, he led all the way to prevail by 7 3/4 lengths in the quick time of 1:09.61. Then in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity, he outlasted a pace duel to pull away and win by 4 3/4 lengths, completing seven-eighths of a mile in 1:22.57.

Hughes finished nicely in the Del Mar Futurity, running the final three-eighths of a mile in :36.88. His quick finish suggests he’ll successfully stretch out over longer distances, so it’s possible Hughes will become the fourth son of Into Mischief to win the Kentucky Derby following Authentic (2020), Mandaloun (2021), and Sovereignty (2025).