Starrer Drills for Bayakoa Repeat Try

(From track report)
Starrer worked six furlongs in 1:14.60 at Hollywood Park Sunday morning under exercise rider Michelle Jensen in preparation for defense of her Bayakoa Handicap (gr. II) crown next Sunday.

"She's been doing good," said trainer John Shirreffs of the 4-year-old filly. She finished fourth in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) in her last start at Arlington Park Oct. 26. Patrick Valenzuela has the call back in the Bayakoa for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles.

Starrer won the Bayakoa last year under jockey Jerry Bailey and trainer David Hofmans. Owner George Krikorian transferred all his horses to Shirreffs during the spring. Starrer is winless in five starts this year. But three of the races were won by Horse of the Year favorite Azeri and the other two by multiple stakes winner Summer Colony.

Bailey will ride Surya for trainer Bobby Frankel, and Hofmans plans to start Hollywood Oaks (gr, I) winner Adoration – the only 3-year-old in the lineup – in the 21st running of the Bayakoa.

Only Shirreffs' Manistique in 1998 and 1999 has ever repeated winning the Bayakoa.

A field of seven is shaping up: Starrer (Valenzuela), Surya (Bailey), Adoration (Mike Smith), Svea Dahl (Richard Migliore), Angel Gift (David Flores), Cee's Elegance (Victor Espinoza) and Secret of Mecca (Julie Krone).

Secret of Mecca worked seven furlongs in a bullet 1:26 under Krone Sunday for trainer Ruben Cardenas.

Adoration worked six furlongs in 1:14.60 at Santa Anita for Hofmans.