Grade 3 100,000 Bayakoa Stakes Headlines Sunday Card at Oaklawn

Mufajaah, winner of the Pippen Stakes in her last start January 17 at Oaklawn, is the 5/2 morning line favorite.  The Daniel Peitz trainee has won four of eleven starts in her career including two of her last three.  Mufajaah has demonstrated an affinity for the Oaklawn surface with three wins in four tries and a third place finish over the local strip.  The four year-old daughter of Tapit will be ridden by Emmanuel Esquivel and break from post five. 

Heroine looks to flip the script 

Haunted Heroine (4/1) co-second choice has won three of eight career starts for earnings of $124,350 for trainer William Brett Calhoun.  The four year-old daughter of 2004 Horse of the Year Ghostzapper finished second behind Mufajaah in the Pippen and will try to turn the tables on that rival with veteran pilot Joe Rocco in the irons.  Haunted Heroine has finished off-the-board just once in her career – a fourth place effort in her debut. 

Gold Medal Dancer looks for graded score 

Gold Medal Dancer, also 4/1 on the morning line, is a six-time winner including a minor stakes score in June at Canterbury Park.  In 14 career starts, the Donnie Von Hemel trainee has earned $339,269.  Jockey Luis Quinonez gets the call breaking from post number six.  The Bayakoa is named for the former two-time Eclipse Award and Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner who ran in 1989 and 1990.