Zardana
will try to become the fourth multiple winner of the $150,000 Bayakoa Handicap
when the Grade II is run for the 29th time Sunday at Hollywood Park.
The
Bayakoa is the main event on a day when Zenyatta will be honored. The
6-year-old mare, who finished her career with 19 wins in 20 starts and more
than $7.3 million in earnings, will visit the paddock after the sixth race.
Zenyatta,
who will depart for Kentucky
Monday to begin her life as a broodmare, will then be paraded in front of the
grandstand and clubhouse area, giving local fans a final chance to see the
daughter of Street Cry at her home track.
Post
time Sunday is 12:30 p.m. The Bayakoa, which is run at 1 1/16 miles over
Cushion Track, is the eighth of nine races.
Owned
by Arnold Zetcher, Zardana, like Zenyatta, is trained by John Shirreffs, who
has won the Bayakoa a record five times.
Dismissed
at 11-1 in 2009, Zardana, a Brazilian bred daughter of Crimson Tide and the
Southern Halo mare Dear Filly, prevailed by 1 ¼ lengths.
If
the 6-year-old mare repeats Sunday, she would join Star Parade, who won in 2003
and 2005, Starrer (2001-2002) and Manistique (1998-1999) as a two time winner.
Espinoza
will again ride Zardana, who has won eight of 22 and banked $464,276. Espinoza
has four victories in the race, one less than all time leader Chris McCarron.
Since
her win a year ago in the Bayakoa, Zardana has one victory in five starts. That
was a 9-1 upset of 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra in the New Orleans
Ladies Classic March 13 at the Fair Grounds.
In
her most recent appearance, Zardana, who would join Star Parade (2005) as the
oldest winner of the Bayakoa, was ninth of 10 in the Spinster Oct. 10 at
Keeneland.
Second
behind Zardana in this event 12 months ago, Silver Swallow is back for another
shot at age 6.
Owned
by Gainesway Thoroughbred, Aase Headley and Irwin Molasky and trained by Bruce
Headley, Silver Swallow has won four of 27, earning $444,855. She’s a daughter
of Alphabet Soup and the Red Ransom mare Topsom.
Washington Bridge
steps into graded company after collecting her first win outside Northern California. The 3-year-old daughter of Yankee
Gentleman and the Prized mare Stirling Bridge won the Life Is Sweet Stakes Nov.
12. Owned by Mark DeDomenico and trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, Washington Bridge
has four wins in 17 attempts. Her bankroll is $131,089.
A
victory by the Kentucky
bred would be the fourth by a 3-year-old in the last five runnings of the
Bayakoa. Washington
Bridge would join Foxysox
(2006), Romance Is Diane (2007) and Briecat (2008).
The
other 3-year-olds in the lineup are It Tiz and Sister Dawn.
Trained
by Mark Glatt for owners Allen and Susan Branch, It Tiz, a daughter of Tiznow
out of the Woodman mare Star of the Woods has won four of 12 and earned
$206,805. She was second behind Washington
Bridge in the Life Is
Sweet.
Sister
Dawn comes off two consecutive sprint victories – the latest on turf Nov. 14 –
and will be making only her second start beyond 6 ½ furlongs. Her only other
route try was a fourth in an optional claimer March 4 at Santa Anita at the
Bayakoa distance.
Owned
by Ike and Dawn Thrash and trained by John Sadler, Sister Dawn, a daughter of
Indian Charlie and the Strawberry
Road mare Joi’s Flame, has won four of nine. She
has earned $153,707.
Zetcher
will also be represented by Wynning Ride. Trained by Bob Baffert, the
4-year-old Candy Ride filly out of the Mr. Greeley mare Wynyard has won three
of 12, banking $342,108. She was second as the 7-5 favorite in the recent
Treasure Chest Nov. 20 at Delta Downs.
Second
as the 17-10 choice in the California Cup Matron Oct. 30, Lady Railrider will
be seeking her first win of 2010 and first over Cushion Track. Steve Specht
trains the 5-year-old daughter of Ride the Rails out of the Lord Carson mare
Lady Evergreen for owner-breeders Mr. and Mrs. Larry D. Williams. She has won
seven of 21 and earned $433,180.
A
stakes winner over Cushion Track, Sweet August Moon is back in California after fifth place finishes in a pair of graded
stakes in Kentucky.
Defeated
8 ½ lengths by Dubai Majesty in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint Nov. 5
at Churchill Downs, Sweet August Moon won the A Gleam Handicap July 17 in her
last Hollywood Park appearance. Owned by Legacy Ranch and Shirley MacPherson
and trained by Brian Koriner, Sweet August Moon has won seven of 19 and earned
$462,396.
From
inside out, the field for the Bayakoa Handicap: It Tiz, David Flores rides, 114
pounds; Sister Dawn, Alonso Quinonez, 114; Zardana, Victor Espinoza, 118;
Silver Swallow, Mike Smith, 115; Wynning Ride, Joe Talamo, 117; Sweet August
Moon, Joel Rosario, 116; Washington Bridge, Rafael Bejarano, 117; Lady
Railrider, Frank Alvarado, 117.