Photo:

Coady Photography / Oaklawn

Wild Bout Hilary, the longest price in a short field at 16-1, took control early and just hung on to capture Saturday’s Grade 3, $250,000 Bayakoa Stakes at Oaklawn.

The 4-year-old filly, a daughter of Midnight Lute out of the Wildcat Heir mare Wild Bout Tiffany, broke alertly and opened a lead of just over a length to Free Like a Girl by the time the field of five reached first turn in the 1 1/16-mile race.

Trained by Tracy Tanner and ridden by C.J. McMahon, she maintained that unchallenged lead as she carved out pedestrian fractions of 48.94 seconds and 1:13.09 down the backstretch. 

Free Like a Girl, under Ricardo Santana Jr., finally applied some pressure to the leader on the far turn as 2-5 favorite Loved tried to advance in the three path.

But Free Like a Girl, a 6-year-old Louisiana-bred with 21 wins and more than $2.17 million in earnings, was only able to get within a length before Wild Bout Hillary dug in and pulled 1 1/2-lengths clear at the top of the stretch as Loved was being asked by jockey Tyler Gaffalione and not responding.

Both Free Like a Girl and Loved regrouped and made another run at Wild Bout Hilary in deep stretch. But it was too little, too late as Free Like a Girl ended up a head short of the winner, with Loved another half-length behind.

Wild Bout Hilary, who had not raced since Dec. 8 at Fair Grounds, returned $34 on a $2 win ticket and keyed a $107.80 payoff on a $1 exacta.

Her unexpected triumph earned trainer Tanner his first graded-stakes win.

The winner, bred in Kentucky by Clearsky Farms and owned by 5 Finger Racing, earned $150,000 for the victory, bringing her career earnings to $305,340.