Bayakoa

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEW

A field of eight is set to enter the gate in Sunday's $150,000 Bayakoa S.

(G2) on the Hollywood dirt. Clement L. Hirsch H. (G2) victress MISS LOREN (Arg)

(Numerous) has a good chance of benefiting from an early fast pace that is likely to materialize between ESSENCE (Gulch) and ROYALLY CHOSEN (In Excess

[Ire]). The six-year-old veteran's BRIS Late Pace figures are among the highest

in the field, and given a trip just off the pace, she could make a run down the

lane and into the winner's circle. Trainer Luis Seglin will lift Jose Valdivia

Jr. into the saddle.

A. P. ADVENTURE (A.P. Indy) will be making her first start since the

Kentucky Oaks (G1), ending a drought of more than seven months. Despite this

layoff, trainer Wally Dollase has conditioned the three-year-old through some

sharp workouts to prepare her for this 1 1/16-mile test. The rail is winning at

a 20 percent clip, which could give A. P. Adventure the extra advantage she needs leaving the

one-hole to pull off

the win. Mike Smith has the call.

Essence will vie for her third straight victory, one of which was a neck

win in the Anne Arundel S. (G3). The Todd Pletcher trainee will need to

avoid getting caught

up in a speed contest in the opening stages, but her current form is very

appealing. Two back, Essence opened up in the stretch to win an allowance at

Keeneland by 8 1/4 lengths in the mud, and the versatility of the sophomore

filly on multiple tracks and different conditions makes her dangerous.

HOLLYWOOD STORY (Wild Rush) has two starts on the Hollywood dirt, with a win

in the Hollywood Starlet (G1) to her credit. A poor trip in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) brought her in 10 1/2

lengths behind the leader, but the addition of jockey Victor Espinoza could be a

benefit here. Her Late Pace numbers range on the high end, another advantage

that could work in her favor. Watch for an on-the-board placing for the

sophomore miss.

Royally Chosen has come up short of a graded stakes win on a couple of

different occasions. She possesses some of the highest back-end BRIS Speed figures in

the field and this should keep her in the running with a clean trip. The

six-year-old mare has the ability to stay near the front through blistering

fractions and could land on the board in the end. Our concern is the

distance, where she only has one win and two placings in seven attempts for

trainer Bruce Headley.

COCONUT GIRL (Cryptoclearance) is making her first start since September

where she finished 5 1/2 lengths back against less than perfect competition. The

five-year-old produced a good showing in the Desert Stormer H. (G3) in June at

Hollywood, but has failed to really impress since then, recording a trio of

fourth-place finishes. BORN TO DANCE (Service Stripe) is coming off the shelf,

where she has remained for the past seven months. She will make her first start

for trainer Vladimir Cerin after suffering an injury last time. These

intangibles lead us to bet against. KEYS TO THE HEART (Wild Again) would

probably be better off in a lesser spot. A series of graded runnings has produced only one win this year in the Oaklawn Breeders' Cup S.

(G3).