Though still a maiden, Hydrogen in his element in Capote Stakes

CYPRESS, Calif. – If any horse is entitled to an inferiority complex, it would be the 2-year-old maiden favored Saturday in the $75,000 Capote Stakes at Los Alamitos.

Hydrogen’s two starts produced a third and a second in maiden races. In a literal sense, he is moving up in class for the Saturday stakes. Realistically, Hydrogen is dropping in class and facing easier than the rivals that crushed him recently. American Theorem toyed with Hydrogen in a race, and Bast did the same thing in a team workout.

Making his second start last month, Hydrogen was no match for American Theorem, who won by a deceptively easy 1 1/2 lengths to emerge as one of the favorites for the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes on Sept. 27 at Santa Anita. None of Hydrogen’s six rivals Saturday will remind anyone of American Theorem. And none are as fast as Hydrogen, who enters the 6 1/2-furlong race with a speed-figure advantage over contenders Tap Back and Dapper.

The others in the 2-year-old stakes race are Raging Whiskey, Side Street Dave, and Georgian Road.

Although the Capote did not attract a particularly strong field, it will shed light on the form of American Theorem, trained by George Papaprodromou. Hydrogen, trained by Bob Baffert, is the first horse from the American Theorem maiden race to run back.

While he faces easier in the stakes, Hydrogen also is facing easier than in a workout early this week. In company with Del Mar Debutante winner Bast, Hydrogen “set the pace” while pressed from the outside by the filly. Hydrogen was no match for Bast, who drew off late and is likely to be favored Sept. 27 in the Grade 1 Chandelier at Santa Anita.

Therefore, the significance of the Capote is to test the form of juvenile colt American Theorem and juvenile filly Bast. Hydrogen certainly is the horse to beat Saturday, but he is no bargain as 2-1 favorite by linemaker Russ Hudak.

Hydrogen, who adds blinkers and will be ridden by Joe Talamo, is a front-runner who will try to give Baffert his 21st stakes victory at Los Alamitos since the track expanded to daytime Thoroughbred racing in 2014.

Tap Back won his career debut against statebred maidens, followed by a third-place finish in the $100,000 I’m Smokin Stakes for California-breds. Jeff Bonde trains the front-running colt, who will keep Hydrogen honest on the lead.

Dapper, trained by Gary Stute, won his debut pressing a slow pace. He and Tap Back are using the Capote as a bridge to the $200,000 Golden State Juvenile Stakes on Nov. 1 at Santa Anita.