There are few stakes races taking place around the U.S. this weekend, meaning that one of the highest quality races on track will come from Los Alamitos Race Course.

The Bayakoa Stakes is a Grade 3 contest, with the fillies aged three and older competing over a distance of 1 1/16 miles on the dirt. It promises to be an intriguing renewal, with a field of seven set to compete for the purse of $100,000.

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Race History & Records

The Bayakoa Stakes has been held annually since 1981, with the first edition of the contest raced under the name of the Silver Belles Handicap at Hollywood Park. It was first given graded stakes status in 1983, before being upgraded to a Grade 2 in 1986. However, it was downgraded once again in 2019.

Throughout its history, the race has been staged at a number of tracks, including Del Mar in 2016. Three previous winners have won the Bayakoa on two separate occasions, including Star Parade, who landed victories in 2003 and 2005. Chris McCarron and Victor Espinoza are the two most successful jockeys with five wins apiece. Meanwhile, John Shirreffs is the leading trainer with five victories.

Leading Contenders

Midnight Memories

Bob Baffert landed a fourth victory in the race in 2021, and he will be chasing a record-equaling fifth victory in 2023 with Midnight Memories. The four-year-old has been a classy operator over this distance already during her career, as she landed the G2 Zenyatta Stakes at Santa Anita in February 2022.

She appears to be the runner to beat on figures, as she returned from a lengthy layoff to finish a close third in the G1 Beholder Mile Stakes at Santa Anita last month. That run should put her in peak fitness for her effort in the Bayakoa this weekend.

Turnerloose

Phillip D’Amato’s runner in the race this weekend is Turnerloose, who has competed at the top level without landing victories throughout her career. She has been campaigned on the turf throughout 2023, with her best run coming when second in the G2 John C. Mabee Stakes at Del Mar in September.

It’s interesting that she switches back to the dirt this weekend. Her previous start on the terrain came when sixth in the Dueling Grounds Oaks, while she was seventh in the G1 Kentucky Oaks last year. She’s clearly talented, but a revival is needed.

Desert Dawn

It could be argued that D’Amato’s best chance of a win in the race on Friday could come in the form of Desert Dawn. The four-year-old filly brings some high-class form into the Bayakoa Stakes this weekend after previously finishing fifth in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

That performance scored a speed rating 101, and was a mighty improvement on her second in the G2 Zenyatta Stakes in early October. She is yet to record a victory in graded company since scoring in the G2 Santa Anita Oaks, but she boasts some stunning efforts in graded company, including a third in the G1 Kentucky Oaks last year, and a runner-up finish in the G1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes in August 2023. Looks to be the one to beat.

Bayakoa Stakes Prediction

Despite being a Grade 3 affair, this year’s edition of the Bayakoa Stakes features a number of stars that have held their own in the highest company. Desert Dawn appears to be the most likely winner.

A repeat effort from her fifth in the Distaff should best this field, while Baffert’s Midnight Memories could be an obvious contender to fill out the Exacta.

Pick: (7) Desert Dawn (at BetDSI Racebook)

Exacta: (7) Desert Dawn/ (1) Midnight Memories