Handicapper's Corner: 2025 Bayakoa Stakes (G3)

 Corningstone anchors Bayakoa field

By: Laurie Ross, Pedigree Power

The $250,000 Bayakoa Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Saturday attracted a competitive group of fillies and mares 4-year-olds and older.

The Grade 3 contest is held in honor of the Argentinian-bred Bayakoa, conditioned by Hall of Fame trainer Ron McAnally and became a two-time champion older mare in 1989 and 1990. Among her many achievements were back-to-back victories in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff when she was five and six.

A prep for the Grade 1 Apple Blossom Stakes in April, The Bayakoa is spotlighted as race 9 of ten with a 4:25 PM CT post time over a fast track.

Making her third start off the layoff, Corningstone hopes to be the first mare to complete a sweep of the Mistletoe, Pippin and Bayakoa Stakes. The Ken McPeek trainee is a model of consistency and hasn’t finished off the board since last April. Corningstone has tactical speed and broke from the rail in her last race. She also owns the second-highest Brisnet late-pace figure in the field and bested Bow Draw in the Mistletoe Stakes. Contender.

Wild Bout Hilary takes a step up into graded company after dominating the Pago Hop Stakes at the Fair Grounds by 5 1/4 lengths. One rival has started since then and was a next-out winner. The 4-year-old does her best work as a pacesetter and has been firing bullet works at the Fair Grounds for Tanner Tracy. On the downside, Wild Bout Hilary has never attained back-to-back victories and always finishes out of the money in the race following her win. Pass.

Little Jamie has been within a head of earning Grade 3 status. Last July, she missed by a head in the Indiana Oaks then faded to third in the Monmouth Oaks. Typically a pacesetter, the 4-year-old showed a new dimension in her first start off the layoff in the Wayward Lass Stakes at Tampa. She relaxed in sixth place early, attacked around the turn and dueled down the stretch, putting away a stubborn foe by 1 1/4 lengths. The  Robert Medina trainee earned a Brisnet 93 rating and a 96 late pace figure, the highest in the Bayakoa field. Although she’s been in the money in eight of 13 starts, Little Jamie has only visited the winner’s circle twice. The $250,000 question is if Collected’s daughter is maturing and can duplicate her effort. Either way, she’s worth an include on your ticket. Exotics.

Bow Draw hasn’t visited the winner’s circle since last August in an Allowance Optional Claiming event at Ellis Park and has two victories to her name, one was an Allowance contest at Oaklawn. The Henry West, Jr. trainee was third in last year’s Mistletoe Stakes and was fourth in this year’s Pippin, but otherwise, this 7-year-old mare hasn’t hit the board in seven previous attempts. Pass.

The most experienced mare in the field with 47 starts under her girth, the well-traveled Free Like a Girl has hit the board in two of three starts at Oaklawn; she won an Allowance Optional Claiming event and was third in last year’s Apple Blossom (G1) behind Adar Manor and was caught late for second place by 3/4 length. The Chasey Pomier trainee returned to finish second behind Idiomatic

in the La Troienne (G1), so she’s shown some graded class. Free Like a Girl hopes to return to her winning ways after a pair of fourth-place finishes in her last two starts. She may be tailing off since she hasn’t had a break since last August, and her best form was a trio of victories between October and November. She’s usually very consistent and is worth a look for the Exotics.

Loved has won half of her ten career starts, including a 3 1/2 length romp against a nice field in the Falls City (G3) last November and earned a 95 Brisnet rating. Although she’s a 6-year-old, Loved was a late bloomer and didn’t begin her career until she was three. A half-sister to multiple Grade 1 winner and sire Maxfield, Loved is knocking on the graded stakes door. The Brendan Walsh trainee has tactical speed, and her regular rider, Tyler Gaffalione, has been aboard for nine of ten starts. Contender.

Analysis

The last five Bayakoa heroines won or placed in their previous start. Three used the Falls City, Pippin or Pago Hop as preps.

Pace pressers and setters were the most successful; none were less than three lengths from the pace by the 1/2 mile pole.

Corningstone, Wild Bout Hilary and Loved fit the historical winning profile.

Wild Bout Hilary is a need-the-lead type. She may mix it up with Corningstone to her inside. Little Jamie is also one to watch and could surprise the top pair.

Free Like a Girl has the class to win but hasn’t shown her best in her last two starts.

I’m rooting for Corningstone to become the first to sweep the Mistletoe, Pippin and Bayakoa Stakes. She may go to the post at higher odds than Loved.

Selections

1. Corningstone (2-1)

6. Loved (9-5)

3. Little Jamie (4-1)