Inglorious will make her California debut against seven opponents in Saturday's $200,000, Grade II Bayakoa Stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park.
Trained by Josie Carroll for Donver Stable, the 4-year-old Hennessy
filly out of the Smart Strike mare Noble Strike has won five of 12 and
earned $1,378,751.
Victorious in five of six races over synthetic surfaces, Inglorious
has been idle since finishing third in the Grade II Dance Smartly July 8
at Woodbine. Her biggest win came in the 2011 Queen’s Plate, the first
leg of the Canadian Triple Crown.
Hollendorfer, who won the 2010 Bayakoa with Washington Bridge, will try for another with Lady of Fifty.
Co-owned by Hollendorfer and George Todaro, the daughter of After
Market and the Maria’s Mon mare K.D.’s Shady Lady has won five of 10 and
banked $210,000. The gray will be making her first start at Betfair
Hollywood Park. She will try to become the 14th 3-year-old to win the
Bayakoa. The most recent was the aforementioned Washington Bridge.
Another Hall of Fame trainer – Ron McAnally – will be represented by
Charm the Maker as he seeks a record-tying fifth win in the race. John
Shirreffs is the current record holder, establishing the mark with
Zardana in 2009.
Bred and owned by McAnally and his wife Debbie, Charm the Maker has
won two of nine and earned $250,040. The 3-year-old Empire Maker filly
out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Charm the Giant has lost six in a row
since winning the 2011 Sharp Cat.
Three of McAnally’s wins in this race came when it was known as the
Silver Belles Handicap – Happy Guess (1981), Paseana (1991) and Brought
to Mind (1992). He won the 1996 Bayakoa with Listening.
A double graded stakes winner in 2012, Willa B Awesome stretches out
again after finishing third in the Cat’s Cradle Handicap Nov. 18.
Trained by Walther Solis for a partnership that includes Phil
Daniels, Patsy London, John Winters and breeder Terry Lovingier, Willa B
Awesome has won five of 17 and earned $624,896. The heroine of the
Grade I Santa Anita Oaks in March, the California bred is a 3-year-old
Awesome Gambler filly out of the Nineeleven mare Cause I’m Tricky. The
last state bred to win the Bayakoa was Romance Is Diane in 2007.
After four consecutive races on turf, Open Water returns to a synthetic surface for Southern Equine Stable LLC and Mike Smith and trainer Eric Guillot.
A 3-year-old Include filly out of the A.P. Indy mare Biscayne Bay,
Open Water has won two of 11 and banked $140,500. She finished seventh
of eight in the Grade II Hollywood Oaks June 23 in her only previous
start over Cushion Track.
Class Included will be making her synthetic debut for owner and
co-breeder Michael Feuerborn and trainer Jim Penney after finishing
seventh of eight in the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic Nov. 2 at
Santa Anita.
A winner of four consecutive stakes at Emerald Downs and Hastings
Park prior to her loss in the Ladies’ Classic, Class Included has won 10
of 17 and earned $384,526.
Changethechannel will make her graded stakes debut for Abbondanza Racing LLC and trainer Sean McCarthy after a 1 ¾ length optional claiming win in her first local start Nov. 23.
A 3-year-old English Channel filly out of the Mr. Prospector mare
Elegant Prospect, Changethechannel is 2-for-6 with a bankroll of
$74,850.
Madera Castana will be trying to end a losing streak that is more than two years old.
Winless since taking the Group I GP Alberto Solari Magnasco Nov. 6,
2010 at Hipodromo in her native Chile, Madera Castana will go turf to
Cushion for Green Grass Stable and trainer Angel Rodriguez.She finished
seventh of nine in the restricted Swingtime Stakes Oct. 6 at Santa
Anita.
A 5-year-old daughter of Indy Dancer out of the Dancing Groom mare
Madera Fragante, Madera Castana has won two of 26 and earned $128,728.
She is winless in 15 starts in the United States.
From inside out, the field for the Bayakoa Stakes: Open Water, Corey
Nakatani rides, 114 pounds; Willa B Awesome, Martin Pedroza, 121; Lady
of Fifty, Martin Garcia, 114; Madera Castana, Brice Blanc, 117;
Changethechannel, Tyler Baze, 114; Charm the Maker, Garrett Gomez, 114;
Class Included, Kevin Krigger, 119 and Inglorious, Mike Smith, 117.