Yahilwa, Tiz Midnight Clash in Bayakoa Stakes

Fresh from a big win in Louisiana, Yahilwa returns to Southern California in search of her third consecutive victory in the $200,000 Bayakoa Stakes (gr. II) Dec. 6 at Los Alamitos.



A grade II for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles, the Bayakoa will be run for the first time locally after 32 renewals at Hollywood Park, which ceased live racing last Dec. 22. The race was originally known as the Silver Belles Handicap (1981-1993).



Post time is 12:30 p.m. PST. The Bayakoa, which attracted a field of six, is the seventh of nine races and has an approximate post time of 3:30 p.m.



Trained by Jim Cassidy for DP Racing, Yahilwa is a 4-year-old Medaglia d'Oro   filly who won the $200,000 Treasure Chest Nov. 22 at Delta Downs. Her fifth lifetime victory came less than a month after a 3 1/2-length win as the 6-5 favorite in an allowance/optional claimer at Santa Anita Park.



The Treasure Chest score was part of a lucrative day for Cassidy and Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith. They also teamed to win the $1 million Delta Jackpot (gr. III) with undefeated 2-year-old Ocho Ocho Ocho.



Bred in Kentucky by Avalon Farms out of the Smart Strike   mare Verbanella, Yahilwa has earned $278,395 wiht five wins in 23 starts.



Cassidy and DP Racing will also be represented by Oscar Party in the Bayakoa. A daughter of Dixie Union, the 4-year-old has won three of 21 and banked $276,065. She goes turf to dirt after finishing fourth in the Kathryn Crosby Stakes Nov. 7 at Del Mar.



Tiz Midnight gets class relief after finishing sixth, 9 1/2 lengths behind winner Untapable, in the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) Oct. 31.



Trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert for Mike Pegram and breeders Karl Watson and Paul Weitman, the 4-year-old Midnight Lute   filly out of the two-time grade I-winning Tiznow   mare Tough Tiz's Sis has won three of eight and earned $214,720.



She had been first or second in five 2014 starts before the Distaff, including a runner-up finish to Beholder in the Zenyatta Stakes (gr. I) Sept. 27.



Legacy returns to the scene of her latest victory for breeders John Jain, Lawrence Opas and Frank Sinatra and trainer John Sadler. In her most recent start, she trailed in the Goldikova Stakes (gr. IIT) on turf Nov. 2 at Santa Anita.



A 4-year-old daughter of Sightseeing, Legacy won the Cypress Stakes July 6 at Los Alamitos, edging favored Onna Bugeisha by a nose.



Eighth of 11 in the Breeders' Cup Distaff in her United States debut, Valiant Emilia will seek her 12th lifetime win for Teneri Farm and trainer Gary Mandella. A Peruvian-bred daughter of Pegasus Wind, the 5-year-old was victorious in the group III Cesar Del Rio Suito in her final start in her native country June 22.



A close third in the Betty Grable Stakes on Del Mar's Polytrack Nov. 9, Warren's Veneda will be looking for her first win of the year for owner-breeder Benjamin C. Warren and trainer Craig Lewis.