Bianconi Baby captures Washington BC Oaks

AUBURN, Wash. - Bianconi Baby posted her initial stakes victory in Saturday's nine furlong, $100,000 Washington Breeders' Cup Oaks at Emerald Downs.

Bianconi Baby, a lightly-raced daughter of Bianconi trained by Grant Forster, went to the front at the start under rider Ben Russell and maintained a 1 1-2 length advantage through a mile in 1:35, then staved off the late bid of 2-1 favorite Karis Makaw to prevail by a length in 1:48.80. The late-running Sariano got up for third.

Bianconi Baby was the third choice in a field of nine off her previous start, a 12 1-2 length allowance victory at a mile. She paid $14.40 to win and earned $55,000 for her owners, Mike and Amy Feuerborn and John and Jane Maryanski. The victory brought Bianconi's record to three wins from seven starts for $76,860.

The disappointment in the Oaks was 7-2 second choice Swingn' Notes, who stalked the pace from the rail to the 3-8ths marker and then dropped back to finish last. It was the first defeat from five route attempts for Swingn' Notes, who had won a pair of route stakes in her two starts leading up to the Oaks.