On hot streak, Two Trail Sioux tries first stakes

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Two Trail Sioux has been unstoppable in Southern California. She has reeled off four consecutive wins since July, and on Sunday will attempt to add to that streak while moving into stakes company for the first time in her career in the $100,000 Bayakoa at Oaklawn Park.

The 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares comes on Day 2 of this track's annual Racing Festival of the South. Founded in 1974, the festival comprises at least one stakes a day over the final six days of the Oaklawn meet, ending with the $1 million Arkansas Derby on Saturday.

flew in from California on Thursday and should vie for favoritism with Good Student, who was second by a nose two races ago in the Grade 1 Santa Maria Handicap. Good Student, who was also entered in Saturday's Grade 1, $500,000 Apple Blossom here, is expected go in the Bayakoa for Ron McAnally, who trained the race's namesake to two championship seasons.

Others in the Bayakoa include , an impressive allowance winner.

Two Trail Sioux, who has never been beaten around two turns, worked a bullet five furlongs in 59.20 seconds on April 3 at Hollywood Park in her final prep for the Bayakoa. The drill was her second bullet since a two-length win in a one-mile allowance at Santa Anita on March 12.

"She's training awfully good right now," said Wally Dollase, who trains Two Trail Sioux for John Gunther and Don Winton. "She's been improving about every race. She's so game - so tough."

Two Trail Sioux's win streak started in July, when she won her maiden at Del Mar. She returned to win an entry-level allowance there in August. Following a layoff, she won an optional claiming race in February before the score in March.

Dollase looks for Two Trail Sioux, a 4-year-old daughter of Indian Charlie, to be close to the pace Sunday.

"I'd like to see her rate a little bit, right off the pace, but she may be the speed," said Dollase, who has given the mount to John McKee.

Dollase said plans are to move Two Trail Sioux into graded stakes company in the Grade 2, $300,000 Louisville Breeders' Cup at Churchill Downs on May 6.