Los Alamitos: G2 Bayakoa Handicap is the West Coast Race of the Day
Los Alamitos: G2 Bayakoa Handicap Odds & Analysis
As fans await the opening of Santa Anita’s next live racing season which opens the day after Christmas, the West Coast action has moved from Del Mar to Los Alamitos, where Sunday’s G2 $200,00 Bayakoa for 3-years-old and up is the feature race of the day.
The field of eight fillies and mares includes millionaire Champagne Room, winner of the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.
Listed as the lukewarm favorite at 3 to 1 for the Bayakoa, Champagne Room has raced three times since her Juvenile Fillies victory, and will be cutting back from a sixth place finish in her most recent start in last month’s Breeders’ Cup Distaff.
In the Distaff, Champagne Room faced older company for the first time and set a slow pace for six furlongs before succumbing to more seasoned runners including eventual winner Forever Unbridled who is the best in class for older mares having won multiple G1 stakes throughout her career.
Wiz Capper’s Bayakoa Handicap Odds & Analysis
1.) Street Surrender – Runner up here going 6 furlongs in the second start of his career after a maiden win, she’s won six lifetime in 18 starts. Her better races came on the all-weather at Golden Gate. 10 to 1 seems short.
2.) Champagne Room – G1 winner of Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies in ’16 at long odds. Started ’17 campaign beaten 10 lengths in G2 Las Vergennes behind Unique Bella before winning her next out in the Remington Park Oaks at $0.20 on the dollar. Toss her last race when she set the pace, albeit slow for the class, before backing up in the ’17 Breeders’ Cup Distaff, when she had no chance, and she looks like the legit favorite at 3 to 1, and pace of this race.
3.) Majestic Heat – Comes in off a nice win vs. state breds going turf to dirt for the first time in her career in the Betty Grabel. Gets Mike Smith for Mandella and expect her to put plenty of pressure on the favorite. Has a couple of wins at the distance, on turf, but 1 1/16 miles is 1 1/16 miles. Right? Second choice at 7 to 2.
4.) Madame Stripes – One win in three starts on the dirt, but that was in Argentina. Turf only since arriving in the States and will be making first dirt appearance in the U.S. for trainer Drysdale. But it’s never a good sign when the lifetime stats are 15: 3-7-1. Will have to come from the clouds to get there at 12 to 1.
5.) Constellation – Runner has a second in the G2 Great Lady M here in the Summer. Won a G1 at Santa Anita sprinting a year ago in the La Brea. Baffert took over from Hollendorfer and tried the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint last month and was outclassed and eased. Good news is, she walked off and returns a month later with three consecutive works since, including a 6F bullet a week ago. Should be contentious early but don’t expect her to be around late, making her first start beyond 7 furlongs. 4 to 1 seems suspicious.
6.) Pacific Wind – Another who went turf to dirt in last to win nicely! Three-year-old is still NW3 eligible but she’s stakes placed twice and made a big move at the top of the stretch two back in the G1 Del Mar Oaks before tiring to finish 9th beaten just 5 lengths. Owns highest last race Beyer and like her chances at 9 to 2.
7.) Shenandoah Queen – Won a restricted race two back at Del Mar before testing graded stakes waters in the G2 Chilukki at Churchill. Began career at Tampa before before breaking maiden at Mountaineer. Has changed barns a couple of time and is now in the hands of Sadler who is 40% winners at the meet. Still, at 4 to 1, doesn’t get the Wiz’s juices flowing.
8.) Bernina Star – Longest price on the board at 20 to 1, broke her maiden by 9 at Santa Anita going 1 mile to start the year on the lead. Only other lifetime win was from off the pace in a 6 1/2 sprint at Del Mar for $40,000 OC. Stranger things have happened but…
DRF past performances
12 Days of Christmas action at Los Alamitos
Los Alamitos will run its 12 day meet through December 17. Here’s the schedule which includes the Soviet Problem Stakes on Saturday, December 2. The Bayakoa Stakes on Sunday, December 3. The Los Alamitos CashCall Futurity and Starlet on Saturday, December 9 highlight the meet.
