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Wide Open Bayakoa Should Be a Good One

By on

2/4/23

   1   OP   The Bayakoa (GIII)       

     $250.000      4yo&Up F&M      1 1/6m     Dirt        122lbs 

Talk about a wide-open race with any number of scenarios… The Bayakoa (GIII) looks to be just that.  If you like the turf-to-dirt angle, you have that… sprint to two-turns, oh year… class, sure.  I’m going to go with Always A Virgin as my top choice.  Not quite as seasoned as some of these, she had four consecutive wins before the runner-up effort at KEE and the third at CD, both graded races.  I love her recent works, and I think she will excel at OP.  Another that has the OP-angle for me is Feliz Cumpleanos.  She’s won two of her last three starts, and I love that big late effort at SA for the graded win… she may be hard to get past, today.

Here’s The Field –  

1
   Feliz Cumpleanos    Maxmillion Farm    Quinonez L S   122   3/1

She’s already matched her ’22 win total, taking the La Canada (GIII) at SA on a damp surface.  She won an Alw race at KEE late in her sophomore season fo her only score, but she was second three times and third in a pair of starts, so she knows how to bring home a check. 

2
   Time And Again    TwinTowersRacing    Sanchez M J   122   4/1

She’s been more of a turf specialist of late, so this could be an interesting storyline to this race.  She won four races last season, including the QEII (GI) at WO, so you know that she can run with just about anyone on the green stuff.  Now, how does it translate to the main track?

3
   Always A Virgin    Tinkey    Ortiz I Jr   122   9/2

A great sophomore season for this one, winning four of seven including the Seaway (GIII) at WO, and then closed out the year with a runner-up effort in the TC American (GII) at KEE, and a third in the Chaluki (GIII) at CD.  She’s working lights-out and looks ready for a big race. 

4
   Derby Connection    Mb Stables    Bocachica A   122   7/2

She had a big season in ’22, showing a 4/1/1 line from her nine starts, and changed hands to the Big Barn along the way, for the tidy sum of $600.000.  She won the Alabama (GI) for the new connections before a shocking dead-last finish in the Cotillion (GI) and was fifth in the BC Distaff (GI).  Can she find her old form?

5
   Forever Phooey Party    Arindel    Gutierrez R   122   4/1

She has proven to be a sharp claim, tagged for $62.500 then won a high-end Alw for the new connections.  She was second in the Spinster (GI) and third in the Falls City Hcp (GIII) to close out the year, and she looks ready to kick of this season with a big effort, looking at her am gallops.

6
   Zalinda    Threshold    Gallardo A A   122   9/2

Classy mare had a single win in ’22, but she shows four seconds and a pair of thirds from her eight seasonal starts… add in that she has twelve lifetime wins, and you know that she can find the winner’s circle.  She’s been on the grass for most of her recent starts, but note that she has five dirt wins to her credit… she’s always dangerous. 

7
   Matamata    Smokey Stover    Hiraldo J   122   7/2

Five wins in ’22 and seems to have an every-other-race win streak going.  She won the DEL Oaks (GI), Dogwood and Rampart (GIII) to close out the year – three wins from five starts, two graded.  Do you need any more hints that she can flat-out run?   

COZMAN  3 / 1         Willie’s Green Card   4 / 1 / 6

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