Baffert maidens Massimo, Hard to Figure strong contenders in Capote Stakes

In their four combined starts at Del Mar during the summer, the Bob Baffert-trained stablemates Massimo and Hard to Figure have been well-bet but lost to other Baffert runners.

On Sunday at Los Alamitos, Massimo and Hard to Figure again will be well bet despite being maidens in the $75,000 Capote Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs. The race is restricted to horses who have not won a stakes worth $50,000 to the winner.

The only runner in a field of five with stakes experience is Man Child, a well-beaten third in the Grade 3 Best Pal Stakes at six furlongs at Del Mar on Aug. 14 for trainer Ryan Hanson. Flame Rider and Top of My Game, the other two in the field, each won a claiming race for maidens at Del Mar.

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The Capote Stakes is the 10th race on an 11-race program that begins at 12:30 p.m. Pacific.

Sunday is the final day of the two-week Los Alamitos September Thoroughbred meeting. Santa Anita begins a six-week autumn meeting Sept. 30.

It’s a measure of the depth of Baffert’s juveniles that he runs two maidens in the Capote.

“We have some nice ones,” he said.

Massimo, a colt by Uncle Mo purchased as a yearling for $575,000, starts from the inside and will be ridden by Juan Hernandez. Owned by a large partnership that includes SF Racing, Starlight Racing, and Madaket Stables, Massimo finished third as the 4-5 favorite in his debut on July 31. The Baffert-trained Jackstown won the 5 1/2-furlong maiden race as the 3-1 second choice.

On Sept. 3, Massimo raced in traffic early and finished second to the Baffert-trained National Treasure, who led throughout and won by 1 1/2 lengths.

“He wasn’t going to get by that horse,” Baffert said.

Baffert hoped to start Hard to Figure and Massimo in maiden races at Los Alamitos this month, but the races didn’t fill.

Massimo is likely to race from a tracking position. Man Child and Flame Rider are quick enough to set the pace.

Man Child disputed the pace in the Best Pal Stakes, but faded to finish 8 1/4 lengths behind the Baffert-trained winner Havnameltdown, who was later second in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity.

Flame Rider, trained by Luis Mendez, won his second start, which came in a $32,000 claimer for maidens at 5 1/2 furlongs on Sept. 1. He led throughout to win by 10 1/2 lengths.

Hard to Figure will have his third start in the Capote, having finished second to stablemate Newgate in a maiden special weight race at 5 1/2 furlongs on July 30, and third behind stablemate Carmel Road in a maiden special weight race at a mile on Aug. 26.

Hard to Figure will race without blinkers for the first time in the Capote.

Hard to Figure, a $200,000 purchase at a 2-year-olds in-training sale earlier this year, races for Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman.

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