In her first start in more than nine months Midnight Memories asked for just a bit more patience from her connections ahead of her winning move in the $100,000 Bayakoa Stakes (G3) Dec. 15 at Los Alamitos Race Course.
As 2022 Santa Anita Oaks (G2) winner Desert Dawn launched her move entering the far turn under Hector Berrios to steadily rally from third to claim the lead turning for home, Midnight Memories waited while racing fourth inside before she found room to launch her best at the top of the stretch. Switched to the outside of Desert Dawn, Midnight Memories seized the advantage just past midstretch on her way to a clear victory as the even-money favorite ($4.00 to win).
Midnight Memories completed the 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares in 1:42.84 on a fast track.
- With the December victory, Midnight Memories, unraced at 2, has earned graded stakes wins in both of her racing seasons. As a 3-year-old the Mastery filly won the Zenyatta Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park and Torrey Pines Stakes (G3) at Del Mar. She had not raced since earning a grade 1 placing when third in the March 11 Beholder Mile Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita.
- In winning the Bayakoa, Midnight Memories follows in the footsteps of her dam, Tiz Midnight , who won the 2014 edition of the Bayakoa, then a grade 2 race. Like Midnight Memories, Tiz Midnight was campaigned by Mike Pegram, Paul Weitman, and Karl Watson and trained by Bob Baffert.
Video: Bayakoa S. (G3)
