Ellafitz came back to the scene with a bang in the Bayakoa Handicap at Hollywood Park
In the 7 horse field, the 4-year-old filly, Ellafitz, decided to part herself from the rest of the field to run down alone in the stretch to post her first stakes victory in the Grade 2, $150,000 Bayakoa Handicap at Hollywood Park on 4 December, 2011, when
she downed Miss Mittagong by 3 ¼ lengths.
The 4-year-old filly is owned by David and Ella Sivage’s D & E Racing and trained by Bob Baffert, Ellafitz raced for the first time in 3 months after coming off an unplaced seventh place finish in the restricted Adoration Stakes over Del Mar’s poly track
on 4 September, 2011.
Under her regular jockey Martin Garcia, Ellafitz couldn’t run down opponents in the 1 mile event as she wilted to finish seventh to winner St Trinians, who topped the distance in 1 minute and 35.99 seconds as Downhill Diva finished second and Victoryasecret
third.
Ellafitz was sent as the 9 to 2 shot in the Bayakoa Handicap, as she completed the 1 1/16 mile event for fillies and mares in 1 minute and 42.69 seconds.
The Kentucky bred daughter of Tiznow, out of mare Skat Girl by Dixieland Band, Ellafitz was purchased by her owners for low six figures privately.
"She’s had little things that bothered her, but she’s getting better with age," the trainer said. "She’s been really working well and we couldn’t find a race for her, that’s why she’s had a lot of time off. I’ve been trying to find an allowance race for
her but it wouldn’t fill.
"Then she worked a great and then I said, 'You know what, I’m going to run her in the Bayakoa if she’s doing that well.' I think this race may have been her best by far.”
Running on top of the stretch, Ellafitz looked in control of the race when Champagne d’Oro lost her way. It seemed clear that Ellafitz will go on to bag it for her, but Miss Mittagong from third tried to track down Ellafitz, but it was too little too late
as the winner led by two lengths at the eighth pole went on to increase her advantage to win the race.
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