Capote Stakes News Today

The Kentucky Derby is officially on the horizon.

This weekend marks the opening of the winter meet at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans, La., celebrated with six restricted stakes races as a preview for next month's Louisiana Champions day. Three stakes for state-bred fillies will be held on Friday, and three for males on Saturday.

Four stakes for 2-year-olds, including a pair of graded races, highlight the upcoming Winter Thoroughbred meet at Los Alamitos in Cypress, California.

Ramon Vazquez, leading jockey at the recently concluded Los Alamitos Thoroughbred Meet, plans to remain a prominent presence at Santa Anita when the 18-day Autumn Meet begins Friday. The 38-year-old native of Puerto Rico is here to stay according to his agent Bill Castle, who has Vazquez booked to ride seven of nine races on opening day.

Brody's Cause, one of only two horses to win both of Keeneland's top races for 2- and 3-year-olds on dirt since Round Table in 1957, has been acquired by Rodney Eckenrode to stand at Equistar Training and Breeding in Annville, Pa., in 2023. A multiple Grade 1 winner and grade 1 sire, Brody's Cause will stand for $3,500.

Bob Baffert will send out Messier and Barossa as he seeks his eighth consecutive victory in the Grade II, $300,000 Los Alamitos Futurity.

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert entered a trio in the $75,000 Capote Stakes Saturday at Los Alamitos.