field small, appears competitive.

HOT SPRINGS — A short but talent-packed field will attempt to turn the Bayakoa Stakes into Oaklawn’s Grade III race of the day.

The $200,000, 11/16-mile Bayakoa Stakes for fillies and mares 4 years old and up is the sixth of 10 races on Oaklawn’s Presidents Day card today, and the first of three Grade III stakes races.

“It’s a small field, but it will be more than competitive,” said John Ortiz, trainer of Bayakoa entrant Cairen. “We’re just excited to be a part of it. Hopefully, we can get the win.”

Post time for the Bayakoa is scheduled for 3:08 p.m.

Six fillies and mares are entered in the Bayakoa, including Whoa Nellie, a daughter of Orb trained by Larry Jones, who won Oaklawn’s 1-mile Pippin Stakes on Jan. 25.

Cairen was ridden by Channing Hill to third in the Pippin, 51/2 lengths behind the winner. The 6-year-old daughter of First Dude has finished third or better in her last four starts, including a third-place finish among 10 in the Grade III, 1-mile Rampart Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Dec. 14.

Ortiz said Cairen is ready for what should be a tough race.

“She’s doing fantastic,” he said. “She’s been doing very well after the Pippin, and we have her ready. I have been very confident in the filly since I’ve had her, and she’s only continued to improve. I’m more than confident.”

Gold Standard, a 4-yearold daughter of Medaglia d’Oro trained by Brad Cox, finished third in the Grade III, 11/8-mile Comely Stakes at Aqueduct on Nov. 29, and second in the Grade III Remington Park Oaks in Oklahoma City on Sept. 29 in her past two starts.

“There are a lot of good horses in there,” Ortiz said. “It will be very competitive.”

Motion Emotion was 4 2-20 at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort as a 3-year-old last season, with second-place finishes in the Grade III 11/16-mile Honeybee and Fantasy Stakes. Her fifth start at the track, in the Bayakoa, will mark the first for her California-based trainer Richard Baltas. Assistant trainer Aimee Dollase has overseen Motion Emotion at Oaklawn.

Dollase is the daughter of the late Wally Dollase, who trained Two Trail Sioux to a win in the 2005 Bayakoa.

“It’s nice to be back,” Aimee Dollase said. “It’s beautiful here. It’s always nice to come back.”