City To City Waits for Bayakoa

Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer plans to send out a potent one-two punch of City to City and Washington Bridge in the $150,000 Bayakoa Handicap, a Grade II test for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on Cushion Track next Sunday.

Washington Bridge won the Bayakoa last year but has been winless in eight starts since and may have to play second fiddle to stablemate City to City.

“City to City is the horse to beat,” said Dan Ward, assistant to Hollendorfer, Sunday. “We were thinking about entering her in the Matriarch (Friday) but decided to wait another week.     

City to City, a 4-year-old daughter of City Zip, won the Palomar Handicap at Del Mar in September and finished second to All Star Heart in the Las Palmas Stakes at Santa Anita in her last start November 6.

“Washington Bridge just ran a good third to All Star Heart in her last start (the Swingtime at Santa Anita October 8),” said Ward, hoping the 4-year-old filly is showing signs of ending her slump. “We’ll have a good entry in there.”

Ward was happy with five-furlong works by the pair here Saturday: Washington Bridge in 59.20 seconds and City to City in 1:00.60. Garrett Gomez has the call back on City to City, and Joe Talamo will return on Washington Bridge.

Other probable starters include Bauble Queen (Rafael Bejarano), Champagne d’Oro (Victor Espinoza), Ellafitz (Martin Garcia), Love Theway Youare (Alonso Quinonez) and Miss Mittagong (Joel Rosario).