Streamline reaffirms affinity for Oaklawn oval with Bayakoa Stakes win

Nancy A. Vanier and Cartwright Thoroughbreds LLC.’s Streamline, never worse the third in nine previous Oaklawn races, reaffirmed her affinity for the Oaklawn oval with a come from behind victory in Saturday’s $150,000 Bayakoa Stakes (G3).

With Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens in the irons, Streamline raced in last place among the six-horse field as Defy grabbed the early lead through fractions of :22.90 and :46.61 for the first half-mile. Last year’s Bayakoa winner Terra Promessa gained control before six furlongs in 1:12.82 after tracking the early pace, but had to settle for second as the winner came four-wide into the stretch, grabbed the lead and drew off to win by 1 ¼ lengths in 1:47.22 over a sloppy track.

Recent allowance winner Torrent was third. She was followed by Sully’s Dream, Defy and $1.40-to-1 favorite Farrell.

“She was really touting me in the post parade,” Stevens said. “I mean, she was on her game today. She had a race underneath her. (Trainer) Brian (Williamson) seemed quietly confident in the paddock. She was making me confident. Then, my hand was kind of forced on me. I had planned to attack Farrell early on and she broke sharp, but Farrell kind of got shuffled back in my face. My mare settled for me and was just dragging me around there. I actually made the lead about an eighth of a mile too early with her, though. She fought it out. But, she’s got more in the tank, believe me. She is just an old pro, a pleasure to ride and a lot of fun.”

Steamline, a 6-year-old homebred Straight Line mare, improved her overall record to 21-8-3-9 and has now earned $793,166. The 2017 Azeri and 2016 Pippin Stakes winner now has a 10-3-2-5 record at Oaklawn. She returned $8.40, $3.80 and $2.60 at odds of 3-1.