Baffert sends out half the Capote field
If training 2-year-olds is a numbers game, Bob Baffert plays with an advantage.
Baffert already has started 23 juveniles this season, including 21 purchased at auction for a combined $9.8 million. It’s an expensive roster, and also productive. Pinehurst won the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity, Grace Adler won the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante, and the 98-Beyer Speed Figure debut by Corniche stamped the $1.5 million colt as possibly the best of the lot.
The juggernaut is tough to beat, particularly when Baffert starts multiple runners in the same race. Baffert’s 12 juvenile wins this year include eight races in which he started multiple runners, a pattern likely to recur in the $75,000 Capote Stakes on Saturday at Los Alamitos.
Three of the six entrants are Baffert trainees – second-start maidens Enbarr and Rhetoric, and stakes-placed debut winner Montebello. Based on speed figures, they could finish 1-2-3. The longshots are Fascinated, a Golden Gate Fields maiden winner by disqualification; Olympic Legend, last in the Del Mar Futurity; and comebacker Richards the Dream.
Enbarr will be solidly backed in the 6 1/2-furlong Capote based on his debut figure and company line. Second by a half-length with a pressing trip, Enbarr earned an 84 Beyer, highest in the Capote field. It turns out Enbarr lost to a good horse – Pinehurst wheeled back to win the Del Mar Futurity by more than four lengths.
Enbarr worked five furlongs from the gate last weekend at Santa Anita, in company with Rhetoric. Based on video, one could argue Rhetoric was slightly best in the team work.
Rhetoric also ran well first time out in a relatively fast and productive maiden race. He rallied from off the pace, tried to split rivals late, and steadied slightly while third across the wire. Rhetoric was moved up to second when runner-up Kamui was disqualified. Kamui validated the maiden race by winning a maiden race by six lengths next time out.
The most accomplished of the Baffert trio is Montebello, a debut winner at Del Mar and runner-up second out at Saratoga in the Funny Cide Stakes for New York-bred 2-year-olds. Abel Cedillo, who has ridden Enbarr and Montebello, is named on Montebello. Drayden Van Dyke picks up the mount on Enbarr. Juan Hernandez rides Rhetoric.
Enbarr is favorably drawn in post 4, directly outside Montebello in post 3. Rhetoric drew the rail for the second time, which was not an issue in his runner-up debut at Del Mar.
While bettors could favor Enbarr, the market often miscalculates multiple Baffert trainees in the same race. It happened twice recently. Pinehurst returned $10 in the Futurity, while odds-on favorite Murray finished fifth; Grace Adler paid $11.20 in the Debutante, while heavily favored Eda finished fifth.
The Capote Stakes is restricted to 2-year-olds who have not won a stakes race worth $50,000 to the winner. It is race 8 on a nine-race card.