Del Mar: G2 Bayakoa, Grade 1 Hollywood Derby Kick-Off Closing Weekend

By Rick Francis —-

The Grade 2 Bayakoa Handicap and the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby headline the final Saturday of the Bing Crosby meet from beautiful Del Mar; let’s have a look at today’s starters.

RACE 6) 1 Mile. Bayakoa H. Grade II. Purse $200,000 FOR FILLIES AND MARES, THREE-YEAR-OLDS AND UPWARD. Post Time: 5:59/ 4:59/ 3:59/( 2:59) $1 Exacta / $2 Quinella / 50 Cent Trifecta / $2 Rolling Double / $1 Rolling Pick Three / $1 Superfecta (10-cent min.) / 50 cent Pick Four

5) Vale Dori, Baffert/Smith; filly dominated a short field of OC’s last out, her second win from her last three starts; jock change to Mike Smith a plus; quick work tab.

7) Show Stealer, Sherman/Stevens; has finished one across the board in her last three, and today enters fresh following a near four month break. Filly has been working steadily since September, and with Hall of Fame rider Stevens getting the call, she’ll be heard from late.

3) Gloryzapper, D’Amato/Theriot; folded at the top of the stretch in the BC F&M Sprint, however, prior to that failed effort her only non-first or second came in a turf try here in September.

8) Desert Madame, Spawr/Baze; though her last five tries were facing lesser, mare was a neck and a nose away from five straight wins; class-test but she’s ready.

Others from the rail out:
1) Moyo Money; Gallagher/Arroyo
2) Autumn Flower, Hendricks/Van Dyke
4) Barbara Beatrice, D’Amato/Pereira
6) Wild At Heart, Mandella/Castellano

Selections: 5, 7, 3, 8

RACE 7) 1 Mile. Hollywood Derby Grade I. Purse $300,000 FOR THREE-YEAR-OLDS
Post Time: 6:33/ 5:33/ 4:33/( 3:33) $1 Exacta / $2 Quinella / 50 Cent Trifecta / $2 Rolling Double / $1 Pick 3 / $1 Superfecta (10-cent min.)

1) Beach Patrol (Lemon Drop Kid), winner of the G1 Secretariat missed by a head last out, his third straight strong effort; rested and ready, Geroux stays.

2) Camelot Kitten (Kitten’s Joy), in five of his last six graded starts, colt has won four, all by less than a length; always there at the wire.

3) Frank Conversation (Quality Road), rallied from well back to take the G2 Twilight Derby at odds of 37-1; he’ll need a similar effort to hit the board here.

4) Diplodocus (Sky Mesa), closed nicely to finish fifth in the Twilight only a length out; however appears overmatched today.

5) Free Rose (Munnings), battled gamely in the Twilight only to surrender late and finish second; owns a pair of wins and a third here in three starts.

6) Isotherm, (Lonho-AUS), didn’t much care for the soft going last out at Belmont; prior two were both money finishes in the Commonwealth and Saranac.

7) Blackjackcat (Tale of the Cat), filled out the tri in the Twilight; blinkers come off today, a 19 percent training angle, Smith stays.

8) Hayabusa One (Siyouni-FR), cleared a nice first level allowance field at Keeneland last out, his North American debut; trainer on fire here in stakes contests, don’t ignore.

9) Revved Up (Candy Ride), enters having posted a strong work; that being said, his last two races weren’t.

10 Defiantly (Exchange Rate), rallied to win an overnight stakes here last month, his second win from his last three starts; Stevens returns.

11) Annals of Time (Temple City), third offering from the Brown barn; graded debut in last was a steady third in the G3 Hill Prince.

12) Path of David (Istan), had nothing for several of these in the Twilight; tough rider but post and recent works has me looking elsewhere.

Selections: 1, 2, 8, 7