Hollywood Park: Inglorious may lay close to the pace in Bayakoa

Barbara D. Livingston

Inglorious will be making her first start since July in Saturday's Grade 2 Bayakoa at Betfair Hollywood Park.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Inglorious was undefeated as a 2-year-old in 2010 and was Canada’s champion 3-year-old filly of 2011. Her claim for the 2012 season may occur in Saturday’s $200,000 Bayakoa Stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park, a chance for her first stakes win in the United States.

A five-time stakes winner at Woodbine, including the 2011 Queen’s Plate against males, Inglorious makes her California debut in the Grade 2 Bayakoa, which is run over 1 1/16 miles for fillies and mares.

The Bayakoa will be the first start for Inglorious since a third in the Grade 2 Dance Smartly Stakes at Woodbine in July. Inglorious was rested in late summer after emerging from the Dance Smartly Stakes “a little jarred up,” trainer Josie Carroll said.

Her appearance in the Bayakoa is the start of an American-based winter campaign expected to include races at Fair Grounds or Gulfstream Park, Carroll said.

“I think we’ll get through this race and formulate a plan for her,” Carroll said. “We’ve got options in Florida and Fair Grounds. I think we’ll have a fairly light winter campaign.”

Inglorious has made four career starts in the United States, with her best result a second in the Grade 3 Rachel Alexandra Stakes at Fair Grounds in February 2011.

Inglorious starts from the outside post in a field of eight in the Bayakoa, which will be run as the sixth race on Saturday’s 10-race program. Mike Smith rides Inglorious, who has won 5 of 12 starts and $1,378,751 for Donver Stable. Her career earnings are significantly higher than her rivals in the Bayakoa.

Inglorious is best as a stalker, but did close from 12th in a field of 17 to win the Queen’s Plate. More than likely, she will be in close pursuit of expected early leaders Changethechannel and Lady of Fifty.

“She’s very responsive,” Carroll said.

Inglorious is likely to race alongside Class Included, winner of four stakes at Emerald Downs and Hastings Park earlier this year.

Trained by Jim Penney, Class Included was seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 2. The Bayakoa will be her first start at Hollywood Park.

Lady of Fifty trains at Hollywood Park with Jerry Hollendorfer but has yet to race on this track. She won the Palm Springs Handicap over a mile at Santa Anita on Nov. 1 and won three stakes at Golden Gate Fields last winter. Lady of Fifty has not won a graded stakes.

“She’s training unbelievably,” said Dan Ward, Hollendorfer’s assistant. “She’s going in the right direction. We have high hopes.”

The same sentiment has been expressed by Walther Solis, who trains Willa B Awesome, winner of the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks last March.

Willa B Awesome won the Melair Stakes over 1 1/8 miles in April. She has lost her last four starts, including three races at seven furlongs or less.

A longer race such as the Bayakoa should help her chances, Solis said.

“I think we fit,” he said. “We’re in a good spot to run the filly, especially at this distance.”