HORSE RACING ROUNDUP : Bayakoa Wins Spinster by a Record 11 1/2 Lengths

Bayakoa strengthened her bid to become older mare of the year Saturday, scoring a record-breaking 11 1/2-length victory in the Grade I Spinster Stakes at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky.

Bayakoa, ridden by Laffit Pincay Jr., took the lead at the start and gradually put distance between herself and five rivals in winning the $250,000-added race over 1 1/8 miles in 1:47 4/5.

It was the largest winning margin in the 34 years of the Spinster, and the second-fastest time in the race’s history, equaling Track Robbery’s mark in 1982. Numbered Account set the record of 1:47 2/5 in 1972.

Goodbye Halo finished second by 1 1/2 lengths over Sharp Dance. Stoneleigh’s Hope was another three lengths back in fourth before a record Keeneland crowd of 28,788.

The victory was worth $172,412, pushing Bayakoa’s lifetime earnings to $1,061,866.

Bayakoa returned $2.80, $2.20 and $2.40. Goodbye Halo paid $2.60 and $2.60, and Sharp Dance paid 3.80.

Goodbye Halo, a 4-year-old daughter of Halo, stumbled at the gate and an anticipated two-horse battle with Bayakoa never materialized.

Bayakoa and Goodbye Halo had met five times this year, with Bayakoa winning four times. Goodbye Halo, however, turned in a strong effort in the last meeting in defeating her rival by 15 lengths in the Grade II Chula Vista Handicap at Del Mar.

Adjudicating and Rhythm, 2-year-old stablemates of Easy Goer, finished 1-2 in the $572,000 Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park.

Adjudicating, ridden by Jacinto Vasquez, got to the end of the mile a neck in front of his stablemate, ridden by Craig Perret, in 1:37 3/5.

Juvenile fillies also were featured on the program, with Stella Madrid overcoming a poor start to win the $294,500 Frizette.

Rhythm and Adjudicating are owned by Ogden Mills Phipps, whose father owns Easy Goer, the 3-year-old who is the leading candidate for horse of the year.

In the filly race, Stella Madrid was left at the break, but Angel Cordero put her along the rail and into the lead after the first quarter-mile. She was never headed and won by a half-length in 1:38 4/5 for the mile.

Western Playboy, winner of the Bluegrass and Jim Beam Stakes, set a stakes record and led by as many as 17 lengths in winning the $300,000 Pennsylvania Derby at Philadelphia Park. The colt covered the 1 1/8-mile course in 1:47 3/5.