Hope Road Dominates Bayakoa Stakes with Commanding Victory at Del Mar
Del Mar Racetrack concluded its season Sunday with Hope Road delivering a commanding 6 1/2-length victory in the Grade III Bayakoa Stakes, successfully defending her title in the one-mile contest.
The 4-year-old Quality Road filly rebounded impressively from her third-place finish as the even-money choice in the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint earlier this season.
Sent off as the 2-5 favorite under jockey Juan Hernandez, Hope Road broke sharply but found Simply Joking quicker from the gate. The latter set the early pace with an opening quarter mile in :23.15, maintaining a narrow advantage as the field of seven raced up the backstretch.
The front-running duo traveled in tandem around the far turn before Hope Road seized command at the quarter pole. She quickly dispatched her rival and drew off impressively down the stretch. Simply Joking held second while longshot Mahina finished 2 3/4 lengths back in third.
“She is really good out of the gate,” said Hernandez. “She broke running, when I asked her to go, she listened. She relaxed very good. Bob [Baffert] was working on her to relax. He did a really good job, and you know, all the credit goes to the filly, because she relaxed and was tracking the horse in front of me just waiting for me to shake the reins. We had a great trip.”
The victory capped a successful day featuring three graded stakes performances at the seaside oval.
Jimmy Barnes, assistant to trainer Bob Baffert, noted the filly’s affinity for the track. “She had already gone two turns before and she handled the two turns again,” Barnes said. “I think it depends on the level of the competition. Maybe it’s Del Mar she likes. She ran just how we expected her to run.”
Hope Road won last year’s Bayakoa as part of a four-race win streak that included a five-length victory in the Grade III Torrey Pines and a 5 1/4-length allowance win at Del Mar.
The Cicero Farms homebred has finished in the money in all four of her 2025 starts, including a victory in the seven-furlong Grade I Ballerina at Saratoga on August 23.
Pedigree Notes
Hope Road is the first foal out of Grade I Ballerina winner Marley’s Freedom, representing the millionaire mare’s sole offspring to race thus far. The daughter of Blame produced a filly by Medaglia d’Oro in 2022 (unraced) and a colt by Uncle Mo in 2024. This season, the 9-year-old mare delivered a Violence colt and was bred back to Not This Time. The family traces to Grade I winner and millionaire Noble Bird.
No doubt about this one. 🎙️
Hope Road dominates the Grade III Bayakoa Stakes. pic.twitter.com/NYuCP176sZ
— Del Mar Racetrack (@DelMarRacing)
No doubt about this one. 🎙️
— Del Mar Racetrack (@DelMarRacing) December 1, 2025
Hope Road dominates the Grade III Bayakoa Stakes. pic.twitter.com/NYuCP176sZ
Hope Road’s lifetime record now stands at 14-6-4-2 with earnings of $1,016,620. Simply Joking, a 3-year-old Practical Joke filly, earned $20,000 for second place, while 5-year-old Bolt d’Oro mare Mahina collected $12,000 for third.
The final time for the one-mile contest was 1:36.38 on a fast track.
