How to bet the 2026 Bayakoa Stakes

Eclipse Award winner #7 Nitrogen (4-5) will commence her four-year-old campaign in Saturday’s $250,000 Bayakoa (G3) at Oaklawn Park. The 1 1/16-mile affair on the dirt attracted a solid field of seven in total, but the morning-line favorite will be the one garnering the most attention in the affair. 

Bayakoa Wagers

• $15 trifecta key 7 with 4,5 ($30)
• $3 superfecta 7 with 4,5 with 4,5,6 with 4,5,6 ($12)

Campaigned by DJ Stable and trained by Mark Casse, the Medaglia d’Oro lass was the top sophomore turf filly in the country in the first part of 2025 after going four-for-four on the green with a trio of graded stakes wins among her accomplishments. In the off-the-turf Wonder Again (G3) at Saratoga on June 7, the homebred ran off to a devastating, 17-length romp in her dirt debut. 

After missing by a nose in the grassy Belmont Oaks (G1), Nitrogen raced on the main surface in her final three tries as a three-year-old. She aced the Alabama (G1), which preceded runner-up results in the Spinster (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) to conclude her championship season. The filly will not be fully cranked up for this particular affair, but I underestimated her on multiple occasions last year, and I won’t let her beat me anymore. Regular rider Jose Ortiz has the call. 

#5 Miss Authentic (12-1) lacks the credentials of some of her foes in the contest but has won by open lengths in her last trio of assignments on the dirt, which includes a nice allowance score on this surface in December. The Eddie Kenneally trainee might need a lifetime-best effort to challenge this cast late, but she is worth the risk at a big price. Francisco Arrieta will guide the versatile bay. 

Millionaire #4 Quietside (3-1) bagged the Fantasy (G2) and Honeybee (G3) on this course and at this distance as a three-year-old and might be the main danger to the favorite in her 2026 unveiling. The Shortleaf Stable homebred was last seen finishing second behind a peaking horse at Aqueduct while running nine furlongs, and I feel that she will appreciate the cut back in distance against this crew. A top-three result is expected from the four-year-old with Ricardo Santana, Jr. in the saddle. 

Three-time local victress #6 In Just My Heels (15-1) is a one-run closer who I can’t envision winning the race, but she likes this locale, and I can surely see the Midnight Lute mare passing horses and earning a minor award inside the final furlong at a healthy number beneath Evin Roman.