# Bayakoa Stakes (Los Alamitos)

The Bayakoa Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares age three and older run over a distance of one and one sixteenth miles (8+1⁄2 furlongs) on the dirt held annually in early December at Los Alamitos Race Course in Cypress, California. The event currently offers a purse of $100,000.

## History

The inaugural running of the race was on 13 December 1981 as the Silver Belles Handicap at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California over a distance of 1+1⁄8 miles and was won by the imported five-year-old Argentine-bred mare Happy Guess who was ridden by US Hall of Fame jockey Bill Shoemaker in a time of 1:493⁄5.
In 1983 the American Graded Stakes Committee classified the event with Grade III status. In 1986 the race was upgraded once more to Grade II.
In 1990 the distance of the event was decreased to 1+1⁄16 miles.
The race was renamed the Bayakoa Handicap in 1994 in honor of U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee, Bayakoa.
On 7 December 1997, Sharp Cat won the Bayakoa Stakes in the first walkover in the history of Hollywood Park Racetrack.
In 2006 the event was run on a new synthetic Cushion Track which was installed at Hollywood Park.
With the closure of Hollywood Park Racetrack in 2013 the event was moved Los Alamitos Race Course and was run with stakes allowance conditions as the Bayakoa Stakes.
The event was not held in 1987, 2015 and in 2018.
The event was held at Del Mar Racetrack in 2016 with handicap conditions and in 2024 as a stakes event on the undercard of the Breeders' Cup.
In 2019 the event was downgraded to Grade III status.

## Records

Speed record: (at current distance of 1$^1$/16 miles (8.5 furlongs)
* 1:40.38 - Briecat (2008)
Most wins:
* 2 - Manistique (1998, 1999)
* 2 - Starrer (2001, 2002)
* 2 - Star Parade (2003, 2005)
Most wins by a jockey:
* 5 - Chris McCarron (1985, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1996)
* 5 - Victor Espinoza (2003, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2014)
Most wins by a trainer:
* 6 - Bob Baffert (2011, 2014, 2016, 2021, 2023, 2024)
Most wins by an owner:
* 3 - George Krikorian (2001, 2002, 2004)

## Winners

| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Distance | Time | Purse | Grade | Ref |
| At Del Mar – Bayakoa Stakes |||||||||||
| 2024 | Hope Road | 3 | Juan J. Hernandez | Bob Baffert | Cicero Farms | 1 mile | 1:36.51 | $200,500 | III | |
| At Los Alamitos |||||||||||
| 2023 | Midnight Memories | 4 | Juan J. Hernandez | Bob Baffert | Karl Watson, Mike Pegram, Paul Weitman | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.84 | $101,000 | III | |
| 2022 | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held |
| 2021 | As Time Goes By | 6 | Flavien Prat | Bob Baffert | Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier & Michael Tabor | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.97 | $100,500 | III | |
| 2020 | Proud Emma | 6 | Juan J. Hernandez | Peter L. Miller | Gem Incorporated & Tom Kagele | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.40 | $100,000 | III | |
| 2019 | Queen Bee to You | 5 | Ruben Fuentes | Andrew Lerner | Christopher St. Hilaire & Adam Vali | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.21 | $100,351 | III | |
| 2018 | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held |
| 2017 | Majestic Heat | 5 | Mike E. Smith | Richard E. Mandella | Madeline Auerbach, Bardy Farm & Ron McCauley | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.15 | $201,035 | II | |
| At Del Mar – Bayakoa Handicap |||||||||||
| 2016 | Vale Dori (ARG) | 4 | Mike E. Smith | Bob Baffert | Sheikh Mohammed Khalifa Al Maktoum | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.79 | $201,035 | II | |
| 2015 | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held |
| At Los Alamitos – Bayakoa Stakes |||||||||||
| 2014 | Tiz Midnight | 4 | Victor Espinoza | Bob Baffert | Karl Watson, Mike Pegram, Paul Weitman | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.62 | $200,250 | II | |
| At Hollywood Park |||||||||||
| 2013 | Broken Sword | 3 | Joel Rosario | Jerry Hollendorfer | Mark Dedomenico, Jerry Hollendorfer, George Todaro | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.98 | $151,000 | II | |
| Bayakoa Handicap |||||||||||
| 2012 | Lady of Fifty | 3 | Martin Garcia | Jerry Hollendorfer | Jerry Hollendorfer & George Todaro | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.36 | $200,000 | II | |
| 2011 | Ellafitz | 4 | Martin Garcia | Bob Baffert | D & E Racing (Sivage) | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.69 | $150,000 | II | |
| 2010 | Washington Bridge | 3 | Rafael Bejarano | Jerry Hollendorfer | Mark DeDomenico & Jerry Hollendorfer | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:44.25 | $150,000 | II | |
| 2009 | Zardana (BRZ) | 5 | Victor Espinoza | John Shirreffs | Arnold Zetcher | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.24 | $150,000 | II | |
| 2008 | Briecat | 3 | Jon Court | Vladimir Cerin | David & Holly Wilson | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:40.38 | $150,000 | II | |
| 2007 | Romance Is Diane | 3 | Michael C. Baze | Mike R. Mitchell | Senji Nishimura | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:40.90 | $150,000 | II | |
| 2006 | Foxysox (GB) | 3 | Victor Espinoza | Carla Gaines | Warren B. Williamson | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.84 | $150,000 | II | |
| 2005 | Star Parade (ARG) | 6 | Martin A. Pedroza | Darrell Vienna | Gary A. Tanaka | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.96 | $150,000 | II | |
| 2004 | Hollywood Story | 3 | Victor Espinoza | John Shirreffs | George Krikorian | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.11 | $150,000 | II | |
| 2003 | Star Parade (ARG) | 4 | Victor Espinoza | Darrell Vienna | J. Doug McClure | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.02 | $150,000 | II | |
| 2002 | Starrer | 4 | Pat Valenzuela | John Shirreffs | George Krikorian | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.74 | $150,000 | II | |
| 2001 | Starrer | 3 | Jerry D. Bailey | David E. Hofmans | George Krikorian | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.52 | $150,000 | II | |
| 2000 | Feverish | 5 | Eddie Delahoussaye | Dan L. Hendricks | Pam & Martin Wygod | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.26 | $150,000 | II | |
| 1999 | Manistique | 4 | Corey Nakatani | John Shirreffs | 505 Farms | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:43.16 | $150,000 | II | |
| 1998 | Manistique | 3 | Gary L. Stevens | John Shirreffs | 505 Farms | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.51 | $98,000 | II | |
| 1997 | Sharp Cat | 3 | Alex O. Solis | D. Wayne Lukas | The Thoroughbred Corp. | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.68 | $100,000 | II | Walkover |
| 1996 | Listening | 3 | Chris McCarron | Ron McAnally | Janis R. Whitham | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.66 | $108,200 | II | |
| 1995 | Pirate's Revenge | 4 | Chris Antley | Ronald W. Ellis | Pam & Martin Wygod | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.80 | $106,900 | II | |
| 1994 | Thirst for Peace | 5 | Alex O. Solis | Sanford Shulman | Clear Valley Stables | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.28 | $108,500 | II | |
| Silver Belles Handicap |||||||||||
| 1993 | Golden Klair (GB) | 4 | Chris McCarron | Darrell Vienna | No Problem Stable et al. | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:41.20 | $108,500 | II | |
| 1992 | Brought to Mind | 5 | Pat Valenzuela | Ron McAnally | Tadahiro Hotehama | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.62 | $110,200 | II | |
| 1991 | Paseana (ARG) | 4 | Chris McCarron | Ron McAnally | Jenny & Sidney Craig | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.70 | $107,700 | II | |
| 1990 | Fantastic Look | 4 | Chris McCarron | Gary F. Jones | John C. Mabee | 1+1⁄16 miles | 1:42.40 | $107,200 | II | |
| 1989 | Approved to Fly | 3 | Alex O. Solis | Victor L. Garcia | Barry & Judith Becker | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:48.20 | $108,400 | II | |
| 1988 | Nastique | 4 | Bill Shoemaker | Stephen A. DiMauro | Chaus Stables | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:48.00 | $121,800 | II | |
| 1987 | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held | Race not held |
| 1986 | Family Style | 3 | Gary L. Stevens | D. Wayne Lukas | Eugene V. Klein | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.00 | $137,150 | II | |
| 1985 | Love Smitten | 4 | Chris McCarron | Edwin J. Gregson | Gail & Del Chase | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:47.80 | $120,100 | III | |
| 1984 | Dontstop Themusic | 4 | Terry Lipham | Randell W. Winick | Albert R. & Dana N. Broccoli | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:50.20 | $123,750 | III | |
| 1983 | Sweet Diane | 3 | Ray Sibille | Robert J. Frankel | Harry W. Stone, Pinwheel Farm & Milt Bronson | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:48.00 | $112,900 | III | |
| 1982 | Sierva (ARG) | 4 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Henry Moreno | R. Charlene Parks | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:48.40 | $113,900 | | |
| 1981 | Happy Guess (ARG) | 5 | Bill Shoemaker | Ron McAnally | James Mamakos & Dr. Marc Stubrin | 1+1⁄8 miles | 1:49.60 | $107,100 | | |
Legend:
 All Weather Track  Dirt