McCarthy reroutes Stellar Sound to Bayakoa Stakes

The Grade 3 Bayakoa Stakes at Los Alamitos on Sunday was not the initial goal for a December stakes appearance by Stellar Sound.

After Stellar Sound won an allowance race at a mile by an impressive seven lengths at Santa Anita on Oct. 2, trainer Michael McCarthy hoped to find an allowance race in November as a prep race for the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita on Dec. 26.

No such race was available, which McCarthy described on Friday as a “disappointment.”

“It’s not easy to get one ready and back off and get one ready again,” he said. “You always worry if you’re doing too much or too little.”

The $100,000 Bayakoa Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles is a substitute, and could still be a prep for the La Brea Stakes.

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“We’ll see how she comes out of it,” he said. “We’ll give some thought to the La Brea.”

The objective on Sunday is a win in the Bayakoa, which drew a field of six. Stellar Sound rates as an attractive prospect along with Message and Proud Emma, who finished in a dead heat in the restricted Tranquility Lake Stakes at Del Mar in August, and Miss Stormy D, who was supplemented for $2,000 and has not started since a win at Santa Anita in February.

Donut Girl, the winner of an allowance race for California-bred fillies and mares on turf at Del Mar on Nov. 6, and Blue Diva, third in an allowance race at Golden Gate Fields in October, are the other starters.

Stellar Sound, owned by Don Alberto Stable, was trained by Bob Baffert for her first four starts, including a well-beaten third in the Grade 2 Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita last February. Stellar Sound did not race again until she made her debut for McCarthy on Oct. 2, stalking the pace before pulling clear for a comprehensive win.

“I saw a filly that was fresh after a long layoff,” McCarthy said. “She certainly had her mind on running.”

Stellar Sound could get a favorable stalking trip in the Bayakoa. Message, who has not raced since the Tranquility Lake, is likely to set the pace.

Miss Stormy D, trained by Carla Gaines for Keith Brackpool, drew the rail and has shown speed in the past. Gaines said she will leave race tactics to jockey Umberto Rispoli, who has the mount on Miss Stormy D for the first time.

Miss Stormy D will have her stakes debut on Sunday. Sidelined with an ankle injury earlier this year, Miss Stormy D has trained well in recent weeks.

“Hopefully, I have her fit enough,” Gaines said. “It is a long layoff. She’s a big filly and carries a lot of weight. She’s had two six-furlong workouts and galloped out strong for seven-eighths.”

Gaines said she was particularly enthused by Miss Stormy D’s half-mile workout in 48.20 seconds on Wednesday, the fastest of 36 works at the distance.

“Her blowout the other day was gorgeous, well in-hand,” she said.