HOT SPRINGS — Briland Farm’s Absinthe Minded scored a front-running victory in the $100,000 Bayakoa Stakes for older fillies and mares Saturday afternoon at Oaklawn Park.
Absinthe Minded, a 4-year-old daughter of Quiet American who was ridden by Terry Thompson, finished four lengths ahead of Satans Quick Chick.
It was 1 1/2 lengths back to Tiz Miz Sue in third.
She’s All In, who finished fourth, was followed, in order, by Seeking the Title, Taptam, the 8-5 favorite, Be Fair and Dynamic Barbie.
Trained by Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, Absinthe Minded paid $18, $7.60 and $4.60. Satans Quick Chick paid $4.40 and $3.40. Tiz Miz Sue paid $3.80.
Absinthe Minded covered 1 1/16 miles over a fast track in 1:43.62.
It was a record third Bayakoa victory for Thompson, who also won the race last year aboard Payton d’Oro and in 2007 aboard Gasia.
Thompson also rode Absinthe Minded to a front-running 4 1/4-length victory in a Jan. 23 second-level allowance race.
“My filly was more relaxed today than in her last race,” Thompson said. “I didn’t have to work as hard to get her to settle. When I came around the turn, I had a lot of horse and when I asked her, she gave me a great punch.”
Breaking from the rail, Absinthe Minded was able to clear the field on the first turn and maintained a clear advantage through a :23.58 opening quarter and a half-mile time of :47.36.
Absinthe Minded was tracked by Taptam until late on the second turn, then accelerated away from the field in the upper stretch.
“They really left me alone and let me dictate my own pace,” Thompson said. “I knew[Taptam] was behind me, but there was no pressure. When I got to the quarter pole, I was really confident.”
Taptam’s rider, Cliff Berry, offered no excuses for the favorite.
“I was right where I wanted to be early,” Berry said. “We just couldn’t close any ground.”
Absinthe Minded increased her earnings to $219,293 following her fourth victory in 17 lifetime starts.
Lukas said Absinthe Minded will make her next start in the $100,000 Grade III Azeri Stakes on March 19.
Lukas said Be Fair and Tidal Pool, an impressive allowance winner Friday, could also be headed toward the Azeri as well.
Be Fair and Tidal Pool are owned by Little Rock-based Westrock Stables LLC (Scott and Joe Ford).
The Bayakoa was moved to February after previously being run in April as part of Oaklawn’s Racing Festival of the South.
Sports, Pages 29 on 02/20/2011