Baltas has CTT and TOC Stakes bookended

DEL MAR, Calif. – One should be on the lead. The other should be running late. Trainer Richard Baltas has what looks like an ideal tag team of entrants for the $85,000 CTT and TOC Stakes on Friday at Del Mar in Lostintranzlation and Pantsonfire, who give him two of the seven runners in the 1 3/8-mile grass race for females.

No lie, Pantsonfire is the more accomplished of the two. Winner of the Grade 3 Astra at Santa Anita going 1 1/2 miles in January, she is racing for only the second time since then, with her last start a third-place finish when caught behind a soft pace that did her late run no favors in the 1 1/4-mile Possibly Perfect on June 16 at Santa Anita.

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But when the field is sent on its 11-furlong journey on Friday, Pantsonfire should get plenty of pace help from barnmate Lostintranzlation, who has scored front-running victories in her last two starts, most recently on this course and at this distance on July 21 in a first-level allowance.

Baltas said Pantsonfire did not run from January until June because, “I had a little issue and had to back off.”

“Her feet were getting sore. I had to give her some time,” he said. “She was a little fresh for the Possibly Perfect. She was pulling pretty hard. I think she’ll be very tough in this race.”

Lostintranzlation benefitted from a clever ride last time from Geovanni Franco, their second straight win together. This will be her stakes debut.

“She wired the field pretty nicely last time,” Baltas said. “There wasn’t much speed in the race. We’ll find out whether she’s good enough to beat this kind.”

The biggest threat to the Baltas duo is Mirth, who was second in a second-level allowance going 1 1/16 miles here Aug. 2, and prior to that was second in the Possibly Perfect, finishing three-quarters of a length in front of Pantsonfire.

The CTT (California Thoroughbred Trainers) and TOC (Thoroughbred Owners of California) goes as race 7 on an eight-race card that begins at 4 p.m. Pacific.

KEY CONTENDERS

Pantsonfire, by Sir Percy

Last 3 Beyers: 87-90-70

◗ The biggest question with her is whether she likes the turf at Del Mar. She’s finished in the money only twice in seven starts at Del Mar and has yet to win here. She is 4 for 12 on turf elsewhere.

◗ Flavien Prat, the meet’s leading jockey, is aboard for the third straight time.

Lostintranzlation, by Lucky Pulpit

Last 3 Beyers: 83-75-71

◗ She’s in career-best form and owns a win and a second in two starts on Del Mar turf.

Mirth, by Colonel John

Last 3 Beyers: 88-89-88

◗ Trainer Phil D’Amato got off to a slow start this meet, but he’s rolling now.

◗ Martin Garcia has ridden her in her last two starts and has the return call.