LOS ALAMITOS Pacific Wind breezes into Bayakoa

After five starts on turf, Pacific Wind ran on dirt for the first time Oct. 21, winning an optional claimer at Santa Anita. The 3-year-old filly will not go back to turf anytime soon.

Sunday at Los Alamitos, Pacific Wind will start in the Grade 2 Bayakoa Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on dirt. The $200,000 Bayakoa will be Pacific Wind’s first start in a stakes against older fillies and mares.

Pacific Wind closed from fifth in the optional claimer at 1 1/16 miles to win by 1 3/4 lengths. That victory gave trainer Peter Eurton the confidence to start Pacific Wind in the Bayakoa.

“She was always good,” he said. “I think she’s grown up and has gotten on a surface that she likes better.”

Earlier this year, Pacific Wind was third in the Grade 3 Senorita Stakes and Grade 2 Honeymoon Stakes on turf for 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita. She was ninth in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks on turf in August.

Pacific Wind had her final workout for the Bayakoa on Sunday at Santa Anita, going five furlongs in 1:00.20. The time was the fastest of 11 works at the distance.

The Bayakoa Stakes must draw a field of six to be carded, per an agreement between track officials and the Thoroughbred Owners of California struck earlier this year. As of Sunday, a field of at least six was likely, including the Eurton-trained Champagne Room, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2016.

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said he was considering the race for It Tiz Well, who was pre-entered for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Nov. 3 at Del Mar but was not entered because of a foot ailment. Champagne Room was sixth in the BC Distaff. Bernina Star, Madame Stripes, Shenandoah Queen, and the Hollendorfertrained Street Surrender are possible runners.

Eurton said he also nominated Girl Downstairs for the Bayakoa and would not hesitate to have three runners if it meant the race would be run.

The first stakes of the Los Alamitos meeting is Saturday’s $100,000 Soviet Problem Stakes for California-bred 2-year-old fillies at a mile. One Fast Broad, winner of the Golden State Juvenile Fillies on Nov. 3 at Del Mar, is expected to be favored. Sunday at Santa Anita, One Fast Broad worked a half-mile on the training track under foggy conditions, according to owner and trainer Mick Ruis. Clockers did not give her a time, said Ruis, who timed One Fast Broad in 49 seconds.

Brocklebanks must pay $385K

Trainer John Brocklebank and his wife, Tarilynne, who holds an owner’s license, have been suspended after a Los Angeles Superior Court ordered them to pay a combined $385,558 in damages to owner Barbara Black involving the 2012 sale of the then-unraced filly Provenance.

The suspensions were announced in two rulings issued by Del Mar stewards on Saturday. Later that day, Brocklebank said he may have to declare bankruptcy.

“I can’t pay $385,000, and neither can Tari,” he said.

Provenance was sold privately for $60,000 to Black in early 2012 prior to a scheduled appearance in the Barretts March sale of select 2-year-olds in training. A few months later, when the filly was put in training, she was found to have a sesamoid injury, according to court documents.

Black sought triple damages, including costs related to the purchase and veterinary bills.

In a text message Sunday, John Brocklebank said he and his wife thought a lawsuit regarding the filly had been settled.

“All we did was sell the horse,” he said. “We thought it was over with. They only paid $60,000 for the filly.”

According to the ruling, Brocklebank has a responsibility of $192,484.87 to Black, while Tarilynne Brocklebank has a responsibility of $193,074.30.

Sunday, John Brocklebank expressed frustration at the legal system and thought Black was satisfied with the filly. He said his wife should have been held blameless since “her only involvement was depositing the check.”

Provenance had 1 win in 11 starts. She raced from May 2013 to June 2015 for trainers Marty Jones and Mike Puype. She was owned by Black Racing Stable and earned $63,210.

John Brocklebank is based in Utah, where he said he is breaking 70 yearlings. This year, Brocklebank has won 14 races with 94 starters. His stable has earned $420,932. He has not had a starter since September at Los Alamitos.

In 2016, Brocklebank won the Santa Anita Juvenile with California Diamond, who was later sold at auction for $125,000.