Hard to Figure wins Capote Stakes as jockey Vazquez sets track record

CYPRESS, Calif. - Jockey Ramon Vazquez won a track-record fifth race on a single day aboard Hard to Figure in Sunday’s $75,000 Capote Stakes for 2-year-old sprinters at Los Alamitos.

A maiden making his third start, Hard to Figure stalked pacesetter Flame Rider for the first half-mile, and took the lead in early stretch before pulling clear by three lengths.

The second choice in a field of five, Hard to Figure ($7) ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.91 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 80.

“I put the horse in the best spot,” Vazquez said. “He relaxed on the backstretch. He let me do my job.”

Hard to Figure, racing without blinkers for the first time, easily beat 1-2 favorite Massimo, who remains a maiden after three starts. Bob Baffert trains Hard to Figure and Massimo.

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Man Child finished third, by 4 1/4 lengths, followed by Top of My Game and Flame Rider.

Vazquez, who began riding in California earlier this year, broke the record for most wins on a daytime program at Los Alamitos that was shared by eight riders on nine occasions since the track began running during daytime meetings in 2014.

Vazquez had six wins on a program at Prairie Meadows in 2019 and five at Oaklawn Park three times, most recently in 2019.

Vazquez, 36, is expected to be among the leading riders at the Santa Anita autumn meeting that begins on Friday. Sunday was the final day of the two-week Los Alamitos September meeting.

Vazquez led all riders with 13 wins, seven more than Edwin Maldonado, who was second. Baffert and Peter Miller tied for most wins by a trainer with five.

Hard to Figure, a colt by Hard Spun, races for the partnership of Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman. Purchased for $200,000 at a 2-year-olds in-training sale earlier this year, Hard to Figure was third behind two other Baffert-trained runners in his first two starts at the Del Mar summer meeting – Newgate on July 30 and Carmel Road on Aug. 26.

Hard to Figure has earned $61,200.

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