Streamline Finally Scores In G3 Bayakoa

HOT SPRINGS, AR – The third time was the charm for Nancy Vanier’s homebred Streamline on Saturday, as the 6-year-old daughter of Straight Line finally won the Grade 3, $150,000 Bayakoa Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

After breaking tepidly under Gary Stevens, Streamline saved ground to the inside while Defy took an early lead through fractions of :22.90, :46.61, and 1:12.82. Angling four-wide throught the far turn, Streamline emerged onto the stretch with a slight lead over Terra Promessa, then cleared away late to win by 1 1/4 lengths in a final time of 1:47.22 for the 1 1/16-mile trip through the slop.

“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. Brian 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 (the favorite) 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 1/8 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.”

Fan-favorite Terra Promessa stalked the pace throughout and looked primed to take the lead through the far turn but couldn’t overcome Streamline’s powerful move and held second by a length over Torrent. After stalking along the rail, Sully’s Dream didn;t have anything late and took fook fourth. Defy faded to fifth, while Farrell failed to ever threaten and was eased across the line to complete the order of finish. Polar River was scratched.

Streamline’s win confirmed her fondness for the Oaklawn surface, where she’s never finished third in ten Hot Springs starts. The Illinois-bred mare, trained by Brian Williamson, improved her record to 21-8-3-9 with career earnings of $793,166 for Vanier and co-owner Cartwright Thoroughbreds V.

“She’s really super easygoing (around the barn), but then when she trains, when you turn her around to gallop, she’s like game,” Williamson said. “When a horse comes by her, she tries to go with them. She’s just competitive like that.”

Streamline returned $8.40 to win, $3.80 to place, and $2.60 to show. Terra Promessa brought back $3.80 to place and $2.60 to show, while Torrent paid $3.60 to show.

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