Lovely Ride will face increased pace pressure in Bayakoa
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Lovely Ride has proven to be the speed of the distaff division so far this meet at Oaklawn Park, but she will face some new pace rivals Saturday when she goes for her third straight stakes win in the track’s Grade 3, $250,000 Bayakoa.
The race is for fillies and mares over 1 1/16 miles and is part of a local series leading up to the Grade 1, $1 million Apple Blossom Handicap in April.
Lovely Ride has won the first two offerings in the series, the $150,000 Mistletoe on Dec. 10 and the $150,000 Pippin on Jan. 7. She wired her rivals in both races, but could face new challenges on the lead from A Mo Reay and Powder River, who invade from Fair Grounds. The seven-horse field also includes Graysonmacho Gal, a front-runner who encountered trouble early on in the Pippin.
The potential pace scenario is one that Lovely Ride’s trainer, Robertino Diodoro, does not plan to ruminate over ahead of the mare breaking from post 7 on Saturday.
“I love the draw to the outside, but at the same time I think we’re not changing our strategy either,” he said. “We’re going to worry about our own horse – and put her on the lead.”
Lovely Ride has registered three of her four career stakes wins on the lead, with her one off-the-pace effort coming when she won on turf in the 2021 Pago Hop at Fair Grounds. She was a private purchase after one more start with an eye to the 2022 Oaklawn series, said Diodoro.
“We were looking for a mare that could run long,” said Diodoro. “A good mare that runs long doesn’t really have to go anywhere for four or five months with the stakes schedule here. That was the initial plan. Now it’s working out.”
Lovely Ride races for the partnership of John Holleman, Flying P Stable, and Larry Nafe. She is looking to nail down her first graded win in the Bayakoa and Diodoro is pleased with how the 5-year-old by Candy Ride has continued to progress this season at Oaklawn.
“She just keeps filling out,” he said.
“The good ones know when they win, and she’s pretty proud of herself right now. Hopefully, we can keep her going.”
A Mo Reay won the off-the-turf Pago Hop last out at Fair Grounds, coming from off the pace for a three-length win. Earlier in her career, she won main track races at Aqueduct and Laurel Park on the front end. Florent Geroux has the mount from the rail for Hunter Valley Farm and trainer Brad Cox.
:: Get Daily Racing Form Past Performances – the exclusive home of Beyer Speed Figures
Powder River finished second in the J.E. “Spanky” Broussard for the second year in a row Dec. 26 at Fair Grounds. One start prior, she wired two-other-than allowance rivals going the Bayakoa distance at Churchill Downs. David Cabrera has the mount from post 4 for trainer Norm Casse. The team is looking for their third stakes win together at this meet.
Le Da Vida can take advantage if the fractions are hot in the Bayakoa. She closed for fourth in the Mistletoe and third in the Pippin. Another contender who might benefit from an honest pace is Ice Orchid, who comes off a runner-up finish in the Pippin.
◗ The seventh race is a first-level allowance for 3-year-olds that drew Gun Pilot and Gunflash, a pair of runners who last faced Daily Racing Form Derby Watch member Verifying.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.