Post Race Analysis for Race Day December 5, 2009: The Bayakoa Handicap Grade II; 1 1/16 Miles on Fake Dirt at Hollywood Park

When writing my pre race analysis for The Bayakoa, I got to thinking about a horse forever linked with Bayakoa and the 1990 Breeders' Cup Distaff, Go for Wand. She now rests in peace at Saratoga, forever in the mind of horse racing fans the best 3 YO filly in America in the late fall of 1990, and the image of her laying down after crossing the finish line, eyes open, proud but afraid, is as haunting as any I've ever seen at the track. Rest in Peace Go For Wand, you have never been forgotten.

I couldn't bear to watch the replay on this one yesterday. I know it's important to study your failures and your successes, but that doesn't mean I was excited about picking apart a handicap that went as they can sometimes on poly tracks: Undistinguished turf horse with no wins on poly and rather ho hum past performances comes out of nowhere to win. Doesn't mean you have to like it, but it happens. Zardana (Brz) was given a great trip by Mike Smith, sitting in the pocket third for almost the whole race while moderate fractions clicked off until the top of the stretch and the mare went outside, ran a pedestrian final sixteenth in :06 2/5ths and cruised to the wire, game over. The next five hit the line close to each other, with none of these ladies seemingly interested in offending each other. Let's take nothing away from the winner, but in my final analysis, this was a race you just move on from without many lessons to be learned. Trainer Shirreffs has won this race a record five times now. Perhaps that was the lesson. Zardana (Brz) had a career best 99 BSF.

Hollywood Park Race 8; The Bayakoa Handicap Grade II; 1 1/16 Miles on Fake Dirt for F&M 3 YO and Up.

The Nomination Is In: December 5, 2009; The Bayakoa Handicap Grade II; 1 1/16 Miles on Poly at Hollywood Park

Mighty Bayakoa, two time Breeders' Cup Distaff winner. Remembered fondly in California and deserving of praise similar to what we give Ruffian, Personal Ensign, and Zenyatta. I do not bring these revered names up to start the pointless Rachel/Zenyatta debate but to remember a wonderful horse who captured my attention so many years ago.

Race 8 Hollywood Park Post Time 7:05 Eastern: The Bayakoa Handicap Grade II; 1 1/16 miles on poly for F&M 3 YO and Up.



As always, check for changes and watch the tote closely before finalizing your bets.

Fittingly, the Turk is backing an Argentinian horse as his chalk in today's running of The Bayakoa. Teamgeist (Arg) is a 6 YO Mare trained by McPeek with Solis up. Training very fast at SA with a 5f :58 4/5ths and a 4f :47 4/5ths her last two times on the track. Winless since coming to the States, 13 of 17 lifetime in the money and a nice Show in the Grade I Spinster at KEE. Looking for a breakout run today. Far from heavy chalk, some proven fillies will challenge her.

Briecat enters with blinkers on today, and owns the races best lifetime BSF of 100 that she earned at HOL this past June at 1 1/8. Since that effort she had a miserable Grade I turf outing, a mile win and a failed 1 1/16 Grade I where she was in front at the top of the stretch. 6 wins in last 17 starts but only 2 of 7 in the money in 2009. Winner of this race a year ago, I wish her well.

Lucky Copy has the last race best BSF of 94, a dominating ALW level win by 8 1/2 lengths at 1 1/16 at KEE. 4 wins in last 10 starts for Trainer Pletcher.

The next tier down includes Silver Swallow and Cat by the Tale. Silver Swallow, with Smith Up, is 7 of 7 at HOL in the money and 11 of 15 on Poly. The 5 YO Alphabet Soup Mare is 4 of 6 in the money at the distance and should be accounted for on a Super ticket as easily achieving Show or 4th.

Cat of the Tale is 0 of 0 at HOL, 0 of 3 on Synthetics and 0 of 0 at Distance since coming to the States earlier in 2009. Two wins, an N2x and N3X and a nice Show in a Grade II that could have easily been Place last time out. A wildcard and you should account for her.

Floating Heart, a Tabor owned Giant Causeway 3 Yo is placed here by Trainer Pletcher and maybe ready to break out. 4 of 4 in the money in 2009 and 1 poly win. A stayer dropping back, not sure what to expect.

So what do we do? 10 cent Supers are in fashion so I will create several of those tickets in the boxed variety and then work some exacta bets based on my base handicap and moving horses up and down the base handicap dependent on post time odds. Low risk, medium reward betting for me here.

Have Fun, Turk Out!