Alpha Bella opts for Bayakoa Stakes over Breeders' Cup Distaff
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ARCADIA, Calif. - The graded stakes winner Alpha Bella will start in the Grade 3 Bayakoa Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile at Del Mar on Nov. 2 and not in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff on the same program.
Trainer John Sadler said the $200,000 Bayakoa Stakes has greater appeal than the BC Distaff at 1 1/8 miles, which will draw a tough field of nationally prominent runners and a highly regarded filly from Japan.
“I’ll run her on the undercard,” Sadler said of Alpha Bella. “I think she’s a good fit there.”
Owned by Don Alberto Stable, the 4-year-old Alpha Bella has won 3 of 17 starts and earned $415,615. She joined Sadler’s stable in late summer and finished second by 1 1/2 lengths to the 3-year-old Sugar Fish in her California debut in the Grade 2 Zenyatta Stakes at Santa Anita.
Sadler has three candidates for the Breeders’ Cup – Full Serrano (Dirt Mile), Kristenbosch (Filly and Mare Sprint) and Supa Speed (Juvenile Fillies Turf).
The Bayakoa Stakes was previously run at Los Alamitos and has been moved to Del Mar this fall.
The Bayakoa struggled to draw runners at Los Alamitos at times in recent years. The race was not held in 2018 and 2022, and had fields of six from 2019 to 2021. Last year, the Bayakoa had seven runners.
The Del Mar autumn meeting begins on Oct. 31. The current Santa Anita meeting concludes on Oct. 27.
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