The Bayakoa (Grade 3)- $250.000 Purse
OP- For Fillies and Mares Four Years Old and Upward
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Dirt
February 7, 2026

The freshly named Three-Year-Old Female Horse of the Year, Credit Crime, was in action on Saturday at OP for the Grade 3 Bayakoa. Mostly everyone saw everything that she accomplished last year, with the six wins in eight starts, including the KYO. Apparently, the oddsmakers were unaware of that, putting her at 15/1 for the morning line. The bettors saw that ridiculous price and were able to get her down to 5/2, but Shes A Looker would still be the post-time favorite. Whatever the concern might have been, it was proven to be nonsense as this great filly started her four-year-old campaign with a victory, though it did not come without a close call at the wire. She was our pick to win, and we did completely pick the top four, just switching the second and third place finishers. Credit Crime is trained by Aer Stables, and was ridden by E Esquivel. For each, it is their first win in the race. Congratulations to them! The winning race time of 1:41.42 is not one of the fastest, but all that was needed. Let’s take a look at it:

(1/4 Mile- :23.59)- Breaking the quickest out of the starting gate is Mo Mentum Farm’s Libertie and the Mb Stables- trained Go For Glory. These two pull ahead by a length down the frontstretch and into the opening turn. Give Go For Glory the edge after a quarter mile between these two. Shes A Looker runs in the third spot for Nakamura Stables, running in the third lane, a length behind. Our eventual winner from Aer Stables, Credit Crime, is next, two and a half lengths off the pace while running in the second lane. Mo Mentum Farm’s Old Mexico is to her outside, while longshot Alacena rides the rail for D J C Racing Stables.

(½ Mile- :47.30)- Into the backstretch, a determined Go For Glory pulls away from Libertie and is able to have a clear lead at this point. Libertie settles into a stalking position right behind her while Shes A Looker is a length behind her to her outside, waiting for her time to strike. Credit Crime moves to the rail in the fourth spot, three lengths from the lead, and this is not an unusual position for her to be in at this stage of a race. Old Mexico is next in line, and Alacena continues to trail.

(Top of the Stretch, 1.8F To Go)- At the end of the backstretch and entering the turn, Go For Glory tried to give the field the slip, pulling away from those who had been the closest to her. An astute E Esquivel saw this and was not going to let Credit Crime lose any more ground to her, go he moved his champion filly off the rail to pass Libertie, who was already calling it a night while making quick work of Shes A Looker. Entering the stretch, Go For Glory was out in front by about two, but now Credit Crime could lock in and begin her pursuit of her. Clear of everyone else, it was time for her to reel in the leader. Old Mexico took the baton from her stablemate and was now third, as she completes a pass of Shes A Looker. Libertie was done, and Alacena still hadn’t gotten started.

(Finish- 1:41.42)- Into the stretch, Go For Glory tried to live up to her name, and with a furlong to led Credit Crime by a length and a half. This is where Credit Crime showed what makes her special, digging in for everything she could possibly give. Go For Glory was impressing, giving an eye opening performance herself, and it would have been good enough against anyone else. But today, it would be Credit Crime, getting up just time as the two of them hit the wire together, forcing the stewards to look at a close photo. Credit Crime would get the headbob on her to win by a nose, while Go For Glory gets silver for a gold medal effort of her own. Old Mexico came on well to be third and can be seen in that win photo as well. Shes A Looker is the best of the rest, topping Alacena and Libertie.

About The Winner- Credit Crime, trained by Aer Stables and ridden to victory by E Esquivel, is a four-year-old filly by War Chant and is out of Yuhwa. She was bred in Ontario by Aer Stables as a yearling, and they have been together throughout. Congratulations to the connections! The win is her eleventh in 17 starts, her tenth stake win and ninth graded win. Her career earnings are now $4,390.550.

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES