THE SIDELINES : Bayakoa Heads Margarita Field

A field of eight headed by two-time defending champion Bayakoa was entered today for Saturday’s $300,000 Santa Margarita Handicap at Santa Anita.

Bayakoa will be ridden by Laffit Pincay and was assigned high weight of 126 pounds for the 54th running of the 1 1/8-mile invitational race for older fillies and mares.

Bayakoa, a 7-year-old mare, has won Eclipse Awards in each of the last two years as thoroughbred racing’s top older filly or mare.

Others entered in Santa Anita’s premier race for older fillies and mares were Fit To Scout (Jorge Velasquez, 119 pounds), Little Brianne (Julio Garcia, 119), A Wild Ride (McCarron, 119), Vieille Vigne (Eddie Delahoussaye, 114), Highland Tide (Gary Stevens, 112), Formidable Lady (Kent Desormeaux, 112) and Palace Chill (Alex Solis, 112).

Bayakoa is coming off a last-place finish in the $150,000-added Santa Maria Handicap at Santa Anita on Feb. 2. She carried 128 pounds in that race, won by Little Brianne.