Stellar Sound Tries Bayakoa After Santa Anita Romp

Stellar Sound, a grade 2-placed Tapit  filly who rolled by seven lengths in an allowance optional claimer last out at Santa Anita Park, aims for her first graded success in the $100,000 Bayakoa Stakes (G3) Dec. 6 at Los Alamitos Race Course.

The 3-year-old Michael McCarthy trainee races for owner/breeder Don Alberto Stable and has a 2-0-2 record from five starts. Prior to her Oct. 2 victory, she was twice third in stakes, including the Las Virgenes Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Feb. 8 when trained by Bob Baffert.

The Bayakoa marks her first start against older fillies and mares in a stakes race. The Bayakoa is a 1 1/16-mile dirt test, run for just the third time at Los Alamitos. It was first offered locally in 2014 and was run again in 2017. Prior to 2014, the race formerly known as the Silver Belles Handicap was contested at Hollywood Park.

Jockey Victor Espinoza will ride Stellar Sound from post 4.

Opposing her is the Baffert-trained Message, who has Los Alamitos experience, having won by nine lengths in an allowance optional claiming race at the Orange County track nearly a year ago. She also was third at the track in the Beverly J. Lewis Stakes during last year's summer meet.

Out of the Carson City mare Song'n Dance, Message has won three of 10 starts and earned $134,516 for Baoma Corporation. She has been idle since finishing in a dead heat with Proud Emma, whom she will face again Sunday, in the restricted Tranquility Lake Stakes Aug. 28 at Del Mar.

Video: Tranquility Lake S. (BT)

Baffert—seeking his second Bayakoa win at Los Alamitos after scoring with Tiz Midnight in 2014—has named Flavien Prat to ride from post 5.

Both Stellar Sound and Message are expected to be near the early pace.

Proud Emma, owned by Tom Kagele and Gem and trained by Peter Miller, has twice raced since finishing on even terms with Message in the Tranquility Lake. She was fourth in the Zenyatta Stakes (G2) in September and last of seven in the Kathryn Crosby Stakes on turf Oct. 31 at Del Mar.

The 4-year-old Include  filly has earned all five of her victories on dirt, banking $248,658 over 15 starts.

Juan Hernandez will replace booked rider Mike Smith aboard her from the outside post in the field of six, Miller said. Smith tested positive for COVID-19 Dec. 4, necessitating rider changes with his weekend mounts.

Completing the field are Miss Stormy D, stakes winner Blue Diva, and Donut Girl.

Miss Stormy D, owned by Keith Brackpool and trained by Carla Gaines, has been away since scoring an easy gate-to-wire win as the 7-5 favorite in an allowance optional claiming race going a mile at Santa Anita Feb. 29. A 4-year-old daughter of Tapizar , she has won three of 10 starts and $140,140.

Fresh and drawn inside, she is expected to show speed.

Entries: Bayakoa S. (G3)

LOS ALAMITOS RACE COURSE, Sunday, December 06, 2020, Race 5

• Grade III
• 1 1/16m
• Dirt
• $100,000
• 3 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
• 2:28 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Miss Stormy D (KY)	UMBERTO RISPOLI	119	Carla Gaines	7/2
2	2Blue Diva (CA)	Ricardo Gonzalez	119	Isidro Tamayo	4/1
3	3Donut Girl (CA)	Edwin A. Maldonado	119	Brian T. Cunningham	12/1
4	4Stellar Sound (KY)	Victor Espinoza	116	Michael W. McCarthy	9/5
5	5Message (KY)	Flavien Prat	119	Bob Baffert	7/2
6	6Proud Emma (KY)	Mike E. Smith	119	Peter Miller	9/2