Capeside Lady Decisive Winner of Bayakoa

(from Oaklawn Park report)
Dapple Stable's Capeside Lady, the 7-10 favorite under Stewart Elliott, overtook the pacesetting Injustice leaving the quarter-pole and drew off to a decisive 3 1/2-length victory in the $100,000 Bayakoa at Oaklawn Park.

Trainer Steve Asmussen elected to run the 5-year-old Capeside Lady, a recent arrival in the barn after racing previously for Todd Pletcher, in the Bayakoa over Saturday's $500,000 Apple Blossom.

Asmussen apparently made the right decision as the New York-bred Capeside Lady easily recorded her eighth victory in 18 starts while increasing her career earnings to $754,760.

Injustice, ridden by Jamie Theriot, broke on top from her outside post in the field of six and carved fractions of :23 2/5, :47 2/5 and 1:12 with Capeside Lady stalking in second. Under confident handling by Elliott, Capeside Lady ranged up on the outside of the leader on the far turn and cleared off in the stretch under steady handling.

For Elliott, who was posting his meet-high fourth stakes victory, the Bayakoa was something of a consolation prize. His big horses, Rockport Harbor and Round Pond, both won stakes at the meet, but neither made it to the gate for their main goals, the Oaklawn (gr. II) and Apple Blossom (gr. I) handicaps, respectively.

Capeside Lady, a daughter of Cape Town, covered the 1 1 1/16-mile assignment in 1:44 and paid $3.40, $2.20, and $2.20.

Injustice ($3, $2.60) saved the place by a half-length over the fast-closing Caviar Emptor ($3.60).

John Jacinto, who did not have a mount in the Bayakoa, was the riding star of the afternoon with four winners to draw within one (41-40) of Luis Quinonez on the leader board.

The popular 12-year-old Chindi was officially retired in well-received ceremonies between the fifth and sixth races.

(Chart, Equibase)