Bayakoa (ARG)
October 10, 1984 – June 14, 1997
Consultant's Bid (USA) x Arlucea (ARG), by Good Manners (USA)
Family 9-g
October 10, 1984 – June 14, 1997
Consultant's Bid (USA) x Arlucea (ARG), by Good Manners (USA)
Family 9-g
A free-running bay mare whose trademark was the tongue lolling out of her parrot mouth, Bayakoa was a Group 1 winner in her native Argentina and a two-time champion in the United States in spite of a highly strung temperament. The first filly or mare to win back-to-back championships in the older female division since Shuvee in 1970 and 1971, she was also the first to win two editions of the Breeders' Cup Distaff (USA-G1).
Race record
39 starts, 21 wins, 9 seconds, 0 thirds, US$2,861,701 (including converted foreign earnings)
1987:
1988:
1989:
1990:
1991:
Honors
Assessments
Bayakoa was rated #95 among the greatest American racehorses of the 20th century by an expert panel convened by The Blood-Horse (Thoroughbred Champions, Eclipse Press, 7th printing, 2005). She ranked 25th among the 26 fillies and mares on the list.
Highweighted at 129 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older females of 1989, 6 pounds above Bankers Lady and Goodbye Halo (tied for second).
Highweighted at 130 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older females of 1990, 3 pounds above second-rated Gorgeous.
Co-highweighted at 123 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older females of 1991 with Queena (the official divisional champion), A Wild Ride, and Brought to Mind.
As an individual
A good-sized mare, Bayakoa was sound and durable in spite of rather crooked legs but was extremely anxious. She had a bad parrot mouth.
As a producer
Bayakoa produced four foals, of which two started and one won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Bayakoa was bred by Jaime Benedit's Haras Principal. She raced for Juan Carlos Viano, who bought her as an unraced juvenile. She was trained by O. L. Finarelli for her first four starts and was then taken over by Jorge Machado. On the recommendation of trained Ron McAnally, she was purchased by Frank and Janis Whitham for US$300,000 as a South American 3-year-old and imported to the United States. McAnally was her trainer throughout the rest of her career, and she was ridden to both her Breeders' Cup triumphs by Laffit Pincay Jr. Bayakoa died of laminitis at the age of 13.
Pedigree notes
Bayakoa is inbred 4x4x4 to Nasrullah and 5x5 to Count Fleet. Bayakoa's dam Arlucea is a Group 3-placed stakes winner and is a half sister to Michichola (by Aristophanes), dam of Chilean Group 2 winner Asaldua (by Our Talisman). In turn, the sisters are out of Izarra (by Right of Way). The female line traces back to Ante Diem, who became a major Argentine foundation mare after her importation from England in 1884.
Books and media
Fun facts
Last updated: January 8, 2025
Race record
39 starts, 21 wins, 9 seconds, 0 thirds, US$2,861,701 (including converted foreign earnings)
1987:
- Won Gran Premio Palermo (ARG-G1, 1600mD, Palermo)
- 2nd Gran Premio San Isidro (ARG-G1, 1600mT, San Isidro)
- 2nd Polla de Potrancas (Argentine One Thousand Guineas, ARG-G1, 1600mD, Palermo)
1988:
- Won June Darling Stakes (USA-R, 8FD, Del Mar)
1989:
- Won Breeders' Cup Distaff Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Gulfstream Park)
- Won Apple Blossom Handicap (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Oaklawn)
- Won Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Spinster Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Keeneland)
- Won Vanity Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Hollywood)
- Won Ruffian Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
- Won Milady Handicap (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Hollywood)
- Won Hawthorne Handicap (USA-G2, 8FD, Hollywood)
- 2nd Santa Maria Handicap (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
1990:
- Won Breeders' Cup Distaff Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
- Won Spinster Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Keeneland)
- Won Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Milady Handicap (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Hollywood)
- Won Hawthorne Handicap (USA-G2, 8FD, Hollywood)
- 2nd Apple Blossom Handicap (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Oaklawn)
- 2nd San Diego Handicap (USA-G3, 8.5FD, Del Mar)
1991:
- 2nd Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Santa Anita)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1998)
- Arcadia Historical Society's Racing Walk of Champions (inducted as part of the inaugural class in 2014)
- Eclipse Award, American champion older female (1989, 1990)
Assessments
Bayakoa was rated #95 among the greatest American racehorses of the 20th century by an expert panel convened by The Blood-Horse (Thoroughbred Champions, Eclipse Press, 7th printing, 2005). She ranked 25th among the 26 fillies and mares on the list.
Highweighted at 129 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older females of 1989, 6 pounds above Bankers Lady and Goodbye Halo (tied for second).
Highweighted at 130 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older females of 1990, 3 pounds above second-rated Gorgeous.
Co-highweighted at 123 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older females of 1991 with Queena (the official divisional champion), A Wild Ride, and Brought to Mind.
As an individual
A good-sized mare, Bayakoa was sound and durable in spite of rather crooked legs but was extremely anxious. She had a bad parrot mouth.
As a producer
Bayakoa produced four foals, of which two started and one won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Trinity Place (1992, by Strawberry Road) was unraced but is the dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Affluent (by Affirmed) and the second dam of stakes winner Magic Hour (Awesome Again x Affluent).
- Arlucea (1997, by Broad Brush) won one of her seven starts. She is the dam of 2012 Breeders' Cup Classic (USA-G1) winner Fort Larned (by E Dubai) and Grade 3 winner Walkabout (by Stroll); the last-named mare, in turn, is the dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Walkathon.
Connections
Bayakoa was bred by Jaime Benedit's Haras Principal. She raced for Juan Carlos Viano, who bought her as an unraced juvenile. She was trained by O. L. Finarelli for her first four starts and was then taken over by Jorge Machado. On the recommendation of trained Ron McAnally, she was purchased by Frank and Janis Whitham for US$300,000 as a South American 3-year-old and imported to the United States. McAnally was her trainer throughout the rest of her career, and she was ridden to both her Breeders' Cup triumphs by Laffit Pincay Jr. Bayakoa died of laminitis at the age of 13.
Pedigree notes
Bayakoa is inbred 4x4x4 to Nasrullah and 5x5 to Count Fleet. Bayakoa's dam Arlucea is a Group 3-placed stakes winner and is a half sister to Michichola (by Aristophanes), dam of Chilean Group 2 winner Asaldua (by Our Talisman). In turn, the sisters are out of Izarra (by Right of Way). The female line traces back to Ante Diem, who became a major Argentine foundation mare after her importation from England in 1884.
Books and media
- Bayakoa is one of 50 Thoroughbreds profiled in Royal Blood: Fifty Years of Classic Thoroughbreds. Written by racing historian Jim Bolus with illustrations and commentary by noted equine artist Richard Stone Reeves, the book was released by The Blood-Horse, Inc., in 1994.
- Footage of Bayakoa’s win in the 1989 Breeders’ Cup Distaff can be accessed in Bob Ehalt’s article “Bayakoa: Better With Age,” published July 5, 2022, at America’s Best Racing (https://www.americasbestracing.net/the-sport/2022-bayakoa-better-age).
Fun facts
- The Bayakoa Handicap was inaugurated at Hollywood Park in 1994, replacing the Silver Belles Handicap. It was last contested as a Grade 2 race at 8½ furlongs for fillies and mares aged 3 and up over Hollywood's Cushion Track main surface. Another race in Bayakoa's honor is the Bayakoa Handicap at Oaklawn Park; as of 2024, it is a Grade 3 race at 8½ furlongs on dirt for fillies and mares aged 4 and up.
- At the time of her retirement, Bayakoa ranked third on the earnings list for North American-raced fillies and mares.
- After his retirement, Laffit Pincay Jr. (a member of the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame) called Bayakoa the best filly or mare he had ever ridden.
Last updated: January 8, 2025