The Lead:
We walked away from the West Virginia Derby in this space last week with another $430 in the coffer, continuing a big 2024 Race of the Week performance. Let's head west to Del Mar this Saturday if for no other reason than the uncertain weather that plagues the east. The Yellow Ribbon, inaugurated in 1945 and formerly known as the Palomar Handicap, is a true handicap in that the racing secretary sets the weight assignments. There's a 9-pound spread from high (126) to low (117). The Yellow Ribbon is Race 8 on a card that also includes 2-year-old stakes fillies in the Grade 3 Sorrento, a local prep toward the Del Mar Debutante.
Field Depth:
Grade 1 winner ANISETTE (pictured above) has kept the strongest company lines and has the class edge. BELLABEL is a Grade 2 winner and Grade 1-placed. UNCORKED is a Grade 3 winner.
Pace:
BELLABEL should control the pace in a short field of 6 and take them as far as she can go. EVER SMART figures to be closest in pursuit, but hasn't been one capable of making the front. Deep closers will have their work cut out.
Our Eyes:
Here are my horse-by-horse notes.
#1-UNCORKED: First of 3 trainees in the lineup for a Phil D'Amato barn that has struggled at 4-for-45 on the turf so far this Del Mar season coming into the racing week. That's out of the norm, but can't be overlooked. As promising as the ex-Marylander looked in winning the Grade 3 Royal Heroine in her unveiling two starts back for the new trainer, she was equally disappointed in the follow-up try in the Grade 1 Gamely behind rematched rival Anisette. Didn't work well for this on what I was able to view at XBTV.
#2-ANISETTE: Deserving, strong favorite carries 126 pounds and will spot 6-9 to her rivals as she looks for a third Del Mar stakes win in as many tries. She's capable of her closing kick in races with or without pace set-ups, and that's a quality trait not many have. Jockey Umberto Rispoli successfully guided winning favorites in the Yellow Ribbon the past 2 years (Going Global, Closing Remarks) and is winning a sharp 25% on grass so far this meeting. Tough to argue against her.
#3-FUENTE OVEJUNA: Trainer Brendan Walsh makes a Kentucky raid for the second straight week in a Del Mar headliner and will try to improve on Pretty Mishievous' disappointing fifth-place finish in last Saturday's Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch. Recent stakes winner at Horseshoe Indianapolis was a no-threat fourth in Santa Anita's Grade 3 Royal Heroine behind Uncorked in a similar trip and test in April. Mare ran ninth in a 2022 Del Mar turf allowance in her only local attempt when previously with the Leonard Powel barn.
#4-LUCKY GIRL: Worked in company on the turf at Del Mar with D'Amato barnmate Uncorked on July 28 and this one looked like the far superior animal that morning. Followed that up with a 5F move vs. stablemate Bellabel a week later in which she couldn't cut into any of the margin whatsoever when outworked. Difficult to overlook a 9: 0-0-0 record in graded stakes throughout her career and not surmise she's a cut below this level. Fourth in this race a year ago and will be hard-pressed to improve upon that. Jockey Hector Berrios is riding very strong early in the Del Mar stand (to her plus side).
#5-BELLABEL: Potential lone speed in the Yellow Ribbon, she's been working best of the D'Amato trio. This is the best chance to upset Anisette and getting a 6-pound break will help the cause to some degree. The downside is that all 4 wins have come at a flat mile, so the extra 110 yards tilt the favor back to Anisette. She's won the San Clemente and was a clear second in the Del Mar Oaks in her 2 previous tries over the course, so there's expectation of her improving off her spring efforts at Santa Anita.
#6-EVER SMART: Two-time Yellow Ribbon winner Mike Smith (2010, '15) picks up the mount here for veteran trainer Neil Drysdale. While this 7-year-old is 6: 0-1-1 in stakes bids and 5: 0-0-0 on the turf at Del Mar, there's a bit to like here. She should get a comfortable trip near the front and has an old-school training patter of going sprint-to-route while making her second start off the layoff.
Most Certain Exotics Contender:
ANISETTE has 9 straight exacta finishes and loves this course.
Best Longshot Exotics Contender:
EVER SMART has a Hall of Fame jockey-trainer combo, gets in 9 pounds less than the favorite and should get an easy trip forwardly placed.
Sending it in ($100 bankroll):
$75 exacta ANISETTE over BELLABEL. $25 exacta ANISETTE over EVER SMART.
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