Desert Dawn Drops Into Bayakoa After BC Distaff Fifth

Desert Dawn , winless in 10 starts since capturing the Santa Anita Oaks (G2) in April 2022, drops in class to lead the $100,000 Bayakoa Stakes (G3) at Los Alamitos Race Course Dec. 15.

Though the 4-year-old Arizona-bred daughter of Cupid   has not scored a recent victory, she has been in good form over the past six months. She ran third in the June 10 Santa Margarita Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park, was runner-up in both the Aug. 5 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1) at Del Mar, and Oct. 1 Zenyatta Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita, and most recently was a close fifth in the Nov. 4 Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) at Santa Anita.

In the latter race, she closed between horses under Hector Berrios to finish just 1 1/4 lengths behind victorious Idiomatic  and was only three-quarters of a length away from showing.

Berrios returns aboard the $876,525 earner for owner/breeder H and E Ranch and trainer Phil D'Amato. She breaks from the outside post in the field of seven.

Other threats

• D'Amato also runs Turnerloose , a filly shifting from turf to dirt. The 4-year-old filly won the 2022 Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2) on dirt for prior trainer Brad Cox at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.
• Also running multiple runners in the Bayakoa is Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who starts Ganadora  and graded stakes-winning comebacker Midnight Memories .