Now ridden by Laffit Pincay Jr., Bayakoa won her first start of 1989, an allowance race at Santa Anita on January 5, by 12 lengths over a sloppy track. Stepping up to the Grade II Santa Maria Handicap on January 28, she broke through the starting gate and led for the first mile, but was caught in the final strides to finish second. She returned on February 19 in the Santa Margarita Handicap. She broke poorly and veered to the outside, but soon recovered and swept to the lead to win by two lengths over Goodbye Halo. It was her first graded stakes win in North America, and a Grade I at that.