Bayakoa

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEW

A field of eight is set to enter the gate in Sunday’s $150,000 Bayakoa S.
(G2) on the Hollywood dirt. Clement L. Hirsch H. (G2) victress MISS LOREN (Arg)
(Numerous) has a good chance of benefiting from an early fast pace that is likely to materialize between ESSENCE (Gulch) and ROYALLY CHOSEN (In Excess
[Ire]). The six-year-old veteran’s BRIS Late Pace figures are among the highest
in the field, and given a trip just off the pace, she could make a run down the
lane and into the winner’s circle. Trainer Luis Seglin will lift Jose Valdivia
Jr. into the saddle.

A. P. ADVENTURE (A.P. Indy) will be making her first start since the
Kentucky Oaks (G1), ending a drought of more than seven months. Despite this
layoff, trainer Wally Dollase has conditioned the three-year-old through some
sharp workouts to prepare her for this 1 1/16-mile test. The rail is winning at
a 20 percent clip, which could give A. P. Adventure the extra advantage she needs leaving the
one-hole to pull off
the win. Mike Smith has the call.

Essence will vie for her third straight victory, one of which was a neck
win in the Anne Arundel S. (G3). The Todd Pletcher trainee will need to
avoid getting caught
up in a speed contest in the opening stages, but her current form is very
appealing. Two back, Essence opened up in the stretch to win an allowance at
Keeneland by 8 1/4 lengths in the mud, and the versatility of the sophomore
filly on multiple tracks and different conditions makes her dangerous.

HOLLYWOOD STORY (Wild Rush) has two starts on the Hollywood dirt, with a win
in the Hollywood Starlet (G1) to her credit. A poor trip in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) brought her in 10 1/2
lengths behind the leader, but the addition of jockey Victor Espinoza could be a
benefit here. Her Late Pace numbers range on the high end, another advantage
that could work in her favor. Watch for an on-the-board placing for the
sophomore miss.

Royally Chosen has come up short of a graded stakes win on a couple of
different occasions. She possesses some of the highest back-end BRIS Speed figures in
the field and this should keep her in the running with a clean trip. The
six-year-old mare has the ability to stay near the front through blistering
fractions and could land on the board in the end. Our concern is the
distance, where she only has one win and two placings in seven attempts for
trainer Bruce Headley.

COCONUT GIRL (Cryptoclearance) is making her first start since September
where she finished 5 1/2 lengths back against less than perfect competition. The
five-year-old produced a good showing in the Desert Stormer H. (G3) in June at
Hollywood, but has failed to really impress since then, recording a trio of
fourth-place finishes. BORN TO DANCE (Service Stripe) is coming off the shelf,
where she has remained for the past seven months. She will make her first start
for trainer Vladimir Cerin after suffering an injury last time. These
intangibles lead us to bet against. KEYS TO THE HEART (Wild Again) would
probably be better off in a lesser spot. A series of graded runnings has produced only one win this year in the Oaklawn Breeders’ Cup S.
(G3).