Bayakoa

Now ridden by Laffit Pincay Jr., Bayakoa won her first start of 1989, an allowance race at Santa Anita on January 5, by 12 lengths over a sloppy track. Stepping up to the Grade II Santa Maria Handicap on January 28, she broke through the starting gate and led for the first mile, but was caught in the final strides to finish second. She returned on February 19 in the Santa Margarita Handicap. She broke poorly and veered to the outside, but soon recovered and swept to the lead to win by two lengths over Goodbye Halo. It was her first graded stakes win in North America, and a Grade I at that.[6]

Bayakoa was then shipped to Oaklawn Park in Arkansas for the Grade I Apple Blossom Handicap on April 19. She raced wide for much of the race but still won by four lengths over Goodbye Halo. Returning to California, she won the Hawthorne Handicap on May 20 by 4+1⁄2 lengths, then the Milady Handicap on June 17 by 1 length. She extended her winning streak to five in the Vanity Handicap on July 15, winning by five lengths while carrying 125 pounds. After a brief rest, Bayakoa returned on September 2 in the Chula Vista Handicap at Del Mar, carrying 127 pounds. She was caught up in a fast early pace and faded to sixth.[6]

She was then shipped to Belmont Park in New York for the Ruffian Handicap on September 24, where she faced an excellent field including Open Mind, who had won 10 straight races including the New York fillies triple crown. After setting a slow early pace, Bayakoa won easily by 3+1⁄2 lengths. "This is a very nice filly," said Pincay. "I knew they were coming at me, but I had a lot of horse left." Open Mind's connections felt that they could have won if Bayakoa was not allowed to set a slow pace.[7]

Bayakoa followed up with a stunning performance in the Spinster Stakes at Keeneland in Kentucky on October 15, winning by 11+1⁄2 lengths, the largest margin of victory in the history of the race. Her time of 1:474⁄5 for 1+1⁄8 miles was the second fastest in stakes history.[8]

Bayakoa was the 7-10 favorite in the Breeders' Cup Distaff, held at Gulfstream Park in Florida on November 4. Her rivals included four horses trained by D. Wayne Lukas, three of whom were expected to "soften up" Bayakoa by challenging her for the early lead, allowing the fourth, Open Mind, to make a late challenge. Instead, Bayakoa settled in second place then took command rounding the far turn and won by 1+1⁄2 lengths over Gorgeous with Open Mind a distant third.[6][9]

Bayakoa finished the year with nine wins from eleven starts. Her seven Grade I wins included the Breeders' Cup Distaff and other major races across the country.[4] In the Eclipse Award voting for champion older female horse, only one ballot was cast against her.[10]

Bayakoa started 1990 with a win in the Santa Maria Handicap on February 4, winning by 3+1⁄2 lengths over Nikishka who was carrying 9 pounds less weight. In the Santa Margarita Handicap on February 18, she won by six lengths while carrying 127 pounds, compared to the Gorgeous who was carrying 125 pounds. She was ridden in both those races by Chris McCarron, but was then reunited with Lafitte Pincay for the rest of her career.[6]

She was next entered against the best male horses on the West Coast in the Santa Anita Handicap on March 4. However, she broke poorly and was never in contention, finishing tenth. Returning to the distaff division in the Apple Blossom Handicap, she led for most of the race but was caught near the wire by Gorgeous, who was carrying four pounds less weight. Bayakoa returned to form with a four length win in the Hawthorne Handicap and followed up with her second win of the Milady Handicap. Although she won easily, McNally was concerned that the handicap conditions of these races might catch up with Bayakoa. "That's the unfortunate part about hitting all these races. You win 'em all, you keep picking it up, then the big one comes along, and you're way up there."[11]

As a result of the high weight assignments, her connections decided to skip the Vanity Handicap (in which she would have carried 128 pounds)[12] and instead tried her against male horses in the San Diego Handicap where she carried 122 pounds. She raced well but could not hold off Quiet American, who carried only 115 pounds. "It's a thrill to beat a horse like her", said Quiet American's jockey Kent Desormeaux. "All you ever hear is Bayakoa. We beat the filly of the world."[13]

In the Chula Vista Handicap on September 1, Bayakoa battled for almost the entire race with Fantastic Look, to whom she was conceding 14 pounds. In mid-stretch Bayakoa looked beaten but she then rallied, winning by a nose in the final stride. "That was a tough one", said McAnally. "I don't think she's ever had to run harder than that. That was an awful lot of weight to give away. It's a lot to ask; even a horse like her.[14]

In the Spinster on October 6, she battled with old rival Gorgeous and won by three lengths while setting a stakes record.[15] Coming into the 1990 Breeders' Cup Distaff at Belmont Park on October 27, Bayakoa had six wins from nine starts, with two of those losses coming in open company against male horses. Despite her excellent record, she was only the second choice in the field to the brilliant three-year-old filly Go For Wand. Both front-runners by nature, the two battled for the lead for the first mile as if it was a match race. After they came off of the final turn and entered the last furlong, Go For Wand's leg shattered near the spot on the track where the great Ruffian is buried. Bayakoa continued on to the wire, and Go For Wand was euthanized. "I can hardly speak", said McNally. "I feel good for our mare, but I feel terrible because of what happened to Go For Wand."[16]

In the 1990 Eclipse Award voting, Bayakoa was again honored as the American champion older female horse.[17]