The Bayakoa Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares age three and older run over a distance of one and one sixteenth miles ( furlongs) on the dirt held annually in early December at Los Alamitos Race Course in Cypress, California. The event currently offers a purse of $100,000.
History
The inaugural running of the race was on 13 December 1981 as the Silver Belles Handicap at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California over a distance of miles and was won by the imported five-year-old Argentine-bred mare Happy Guess who was ridden by US Hall of Fame jockey Bill Shoemaker in a time of 1:49.
In 1983 the American Graded Stakes Committee classified the event with Grade III status. In 1986 the race was upgraded once more to Grade II.
In 1990 the distance of the event was decreased to miles.
The race was renamed the Bayakoa Handicap in 1994 in honor of U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee, Bayakoa.
On 7 December 1997, Sharp Cat won the Bayakoa Stakes in the first walkover in the history of Hollywood Park Racetrack.
In 2006 the event was run on a new synthetic Cushion Track which was installed at Hollywood Park.
With the closure of Hollywood Park Racetrack in 2013 the event was moved Los Alamitos Race Course and was run with stakes allowance conditions as the Bayakoa Stakes.
The event was not held in 1987, 2015 and in 2018.
The event was held at Del Mar Racetrack in 2016 with handicap conditions and in 2024 as a stakes event on the undercard of the Breeders' Cup.
In 2019 the event was downgraded to Grade III status.
Records Speed record: (at current distance of 11/16 miles (8.5 furlongs) 1:40.38 - Briecat (2008)
Most wins: 2 - Manistique (1998, 1999) 2 - Starrer (2001, 2002) 2 - Star Parade (2003, 2005) 2 - Hope Road (2024, 2025)
Most wins by a jockey: 5 - Chris McCarron (1985, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1996) 5 - Victor Espinoza (2003, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2014)
Most wins by a trainer: 7 - Bob Baffert (2011, 2014, 2016, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025)
Most wins by an owner: 3 - George Krikorian (2001, 2002, 2004)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefAt Del Mar – Bayakoa Stakes2025Hope Road 4Juan J. HernandezBob BaffertCicero Farms 1 mile 1:36.51$101,500III2024Hope Road 3Juan J. HernandezBob BaffertCicero Farms 1 mile 1:36.51$200,500IIIAt Los Alamitos 2023Midnight Memories4Juan J. HernandezBob BaffertKarl Watson, Mike Pegram, Paul Weitman miles 1:42.84$101,000III2022Race not held2021As Time Goes By 6Flavien PratBob BaffertDerrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier & Michael Tabor miles1:42.97$100,500III2020Proud Emma6Juan J. HernandezPeter L. MillerGem Incorporated & Tom Kagele miles1:42.40$100,000III2019Queen Bee to You5Ruben FuentesAndrew LernerChristopher St. Hilaire & Adam Vali miles1:44.21$100,351III2018Race not held2017Majestic Heat5Mike E. SmithMadeline Auerbach, Bardy Farm & Ron McCauley miles1:42.15$201,035IIAt Del Mar – Bayakoa Handicap 2016Vale Dori (ARG)4Mike E. SmithBob BaffertSheikh Mohammed Khalifa Al Maktoum miles1:44.79$201,035II2015Race not heldAt Los Alamitos – Bayakoa Stakes2014Tiz Midnight4Victor EspinozaBob BaffertKarl Watson, Mike Pegram, Paul Weitman miles1:41.62$200,250IIAt Hollywood Park2013Broken Sword3Joel RosarioJerry HollendorferMark Dedomenico, Jerry Hollendorfer, George Todaro miles1:42.98$151,000IIBayakoa Handicap 2012Lady of Fifty3Martin GarciaJerry HollendorferJerry Hollendorfer & George Todaro miles1:44.36$200,000II2011Ellafitz4Martin GarciaBob BaffertD & E Racing (Sivage) miles1:42.69$150,000II2010Washington Bridge3Rafael BejaranoJerry HollendorferMark DeDomenico & Jerry Hollendorfer miles1:44.25$150,000II2009Zardana (BRZ)5Victor EspinozaJohn ShirreffsArnold Zetcher miles1:42.24$150,000II2008Briecat3Jon CourtVladimir CerinDavid & Holly Wilson miles1:40.38$150,000II2007Romance Is Diane3Michael C. BazeMike R. MitchellSenji Nishimura miles1:40.90$150,000II2006Foxysox (GB)3Victor EspinozaCarla GainesWarren B. Williamson miles1:41.84$150,000II2005Star Parade (ARG)6Martin A. PedrozaDarrell ViennaGary A. Tanaka miles1:41.96$150,000II2004Hollywood Story3Victor EspinozaJohn Shirreffs George Krikorian miles1:41.11$150,000II2003Star Parade (ARG)4Victor EspinozaDarrell ViennaJ. Doug McClure miles1:41.02$150,000II2002Starrer4Pat ValenzuelaJohn ShirreffsGeorge Krikorian miles1:41.74$150,000II2001Starrer3Jerry D. BaileyDavid E. Hofmans George Krikorian miles1:42.52$150,000II2000Feverish5Dan L. HendricksPam & Martin Wygod miles1:42.26$150,000II1999Manistique 4Corey NakataniJohn Shirreffs505 Farms miles1:43.16$150,000II1998Manistique 3Gary L. StevensJohn Shirreffs505 Farms miles1:42.51$98,000 II1997Sharp Cat3Alex O. SolisD. Wayne LukasThe Thoroughbred Corp. miles1:42.68$100,000II1996Listening3Chris McCarronRon McAnally Janis R. Whitham miles1:42.66$108,200II1995Pirate's Revenge4Chris AntleyRonald W. EllisPam & Martin Wygod miles1:41.80$106,900II1994Thirst for Peace5Alex O. SolisSanford ShulmanClear Valley Stables miles1:42.28$108,500IISilver Belles Handicap1993Golden Klair (GB)4Chris McCarronDarrell ViennaNo Problem Stable et al. miles1:41.20$108,500II1992Brought to Mind5Pat ValenzuelaRon McAnallyTadahiro Hotehama miles1:42.62$110,200II1991Paseana (ARG)4Chris McCarronRon McAnallyJenny & Sidney Craig miles1:42.70$107,700II1990Fantastic Look4Chris McCarronGary F. JonesJohn C. Mabee miles1:42.40$107,200II 1989Approved to Fly3Alex O. SolisVictor L. GarciaBarry & Judith Becker miles1:48.20$108,400II 1988Nastique4Bill ShoemakerStephen A. DiMauroChaus Stables miles1:48.00$121,800II 1987Race not held1986Family Style3Gary L. StevensD. Wayne LukasEugene V. Klein miles1:50.00$137,150II1985Love Smitten4Chris McCarronEdwin J. GregsonGail & Del Chase miles1:47.80$120,100III19844Terry LiphamRandell W. WinickAlbert R. & Dana N. Broccoli miles1:50.20$123,750III1983Sweet Diane3Ray SibilleRobert J. FrankelHarry W. Stone, Pinwheel Farm & Milt Bronson miles1:48.00$112,900III1982Sierva (ARG)4Laffit Pincay Jr.Henry MorenoR. Charlene Parks miles1:48.40$113,900 19815Bill ShoemakerRon McAnallyJames Mamakos & Dr. Marc Stubrin miles1:49.60$107,100
Legend:
See also List of American and Canadian Graded races
References