If that's the same level I'm thinking of, you don't actually have to sacrifice Yoshi at all. If you have a feather, you can fly right under the first finish line and float up to the second with your magic cape.
And, yes, those 'Wicked Awesome' levels were notoriously difficult, especially the one with the pipes, footballers and 'P' balloons. It was nigh impossible to float in the air whilst avoiding the red spikes the plants shoot out at you. Bad memories...