Five straight for Two Trail Sioux

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Two Trail Sioux won her fifth straight race Sunday when she stepped into stakes company for the first time in the $100,000 Bayakoa at Oaklawn and rolled to a one-length win over Platinum Ballet. It was another length back in third to Casual Attitude.

The Bayakoa is one of nine stakes that annually make up the Racing Festival of the South during the last six days of the meet at Oaklawn. The Festival opened Saturday with the Grade 1 Apple Blossom won by Dream of Summer and the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap won by Grand Reward.

Two Trail Sioux ($6.80) broke sharp in the Bayakoa, and after sitting just off Slewpy's Storm through an opening quarter in 23.95 seconds, she overtook that one and separated herself from the field through a half-mile in 46.87 seconds. Two Trail Sioux continued to lead through six furlongs in 1:11.66, and in the stretch held off a determined bid from Platinum Ballet. The winner covered a mile and a sixteenth in 1:43.61.

"When the field made a move at her, she just dug in and finished real strong," said John McKee, who rode Two Trail Sioux for trainer Wally Dollase.

Aimee Dollase, assistant to her father, Wally Dollase, saddled Two Trail Sioux, who has never been beaten around two turns. Her win streak began in July with a one-mile maiden win at Del Mar, and one month later she added an entry-level allowance win at the track. Following a layoff, Two Trail Sioux returned to action in February and captured a two-other-than allowance at Santa Anita, then a money allowance there in March, one start before the Bayakoa.

"Her confidence is sky high," said Aimee Dollase. "And whenever you have a good horse that's confident, it's always a dangerous thing."

Two Trail Sioux has now won five of eight starts and $220,360 for owners John Gunter and Don Winton. She is being pointed for the Grade 2, $300,000 Louisville Breeders' Cup at Churchill Downs on May 6.