Mufajaah Edges Flashy American in Bayakoa

It was no surprise favored Mufajaah crossed the wire first in the $100,000 Bayakoa Stakes (gr. III)  Feb. 15 at Oaklawn Park, against many of the same runners she beat just less than a month ago.



But it was a horse who wasn't coming out of the Pippin Stakes—which Mufajaah won by three lengths—that made the 4-year-old Tapit   filly work for her first graded stakes win.



The Shadwell Stable filly conditioned by Dan Peitz went six wide in the final turn to make her closing bid outside of second-place finisher Flashy American, who made a similar driving run in the stretch to track down leader and third-place finisher Gold Medal Dancer.



Favored at 3-2, Mufajaah edged Flashy American—the only graded stakes winner in the group entering the race—by a neck in 1:45.05 on a fast dirt track at 1 1/16 miles.

Mufajaah paid $5, $3.20 and $2.60 under 117 pounds. Flashy American, guided by jockey Chris Landeros, paid $4.80 and $3.80, with Gold Medal Dancer a half length back in third for a $3.80 return.



"I was a little worried, kinda' like I was in the Pippin, whether we were going to have enough pace," Peitz said. "But when they went out there head-and-head, I knew we had the right kind of pace—at least an honest pace. It was definitely a little deeper field. There was a little more quality in this race and she was still able to do her job."



With jockey Emmanuel Esquivel aboard, Mufajaah sat in last place in the field of 10 older fillies and mares while a group of leaders bunched toward the front entering the first turn. Courageous Julie entered the turn with the lead, but Call Pat gained a head advantage and ran the first quarter :23.67 and the half in :47.71.



Gold Medal Dancer pushed ahead in the backstretch, with a six-furlong time of 1:12.86, and was two lengths ahead coming out of the final turn. But she could not hold off the closing pair of Mufajaah and Flashy American in deep stretch.

"I went wide in the second turn, but she took care of me," Esquivel said. "As soon as she changed leads, she started picking it up down the lane and was game for the win."



Bred in Kentucky by William and Suzanne Warren out of the multiple graded stakes-winning Forestry mare Carolyn's Cat, Mufajaah increased her career earnings to $237,140 with the $60,000 victory and improved her record to 5-0-1 in 12 starts. She has won four of six starts at Oaklawn.

Shadwell purchased Mufajaah for $375,000 when she was consigned by Lane's End at the 2012 Keeneland September yearling sale.

Peitz had said before the race that the plans are to retire Mufajaah to Shadwell Farm's broodmare band. However, he wouldn't be disappointed if those plans changed.



"Sheikh Hamdan's been a great client for me," said Peitz. "I'm just happy that we could win a graded stake with this filly. I know she loves Oaklawn.

"Maybe the general manager, Rick Nichols, will have a little talk with 'The Boss' and see if we can talk him into leaving her here and letting us run her through the year. Just with the Azeri (gr. II) and Apple Blossom (gr. I) here, it would be great if we could run in all four of these races."

The $300,000 Azeri at 1 1/16 miles is March 14, and is followed by the $600,000 Apple Blossom Handicap, also at 1 1/16 miles April 10.



Pearl Turn, Diva's Diamond, Lady Haddassah, Bella Veloce, Haunted Heroine, Courageous Julie, and Call Pat completed the order of finish in the Bayakoa.