DEL MAR, Calif. – California’s ever-changing female turf division reappears Saturday at Del Mar in the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Handicap. So, whose turn is it this time?
Since December, seven middle-distance graded stakes for local turf fillies and mares produced seven different winners, including two who are entered in the $200,000 Yellow Ribbon, race 9.
Liguria and Public Assembly, graded winners in spring, could stabilize the division. Michael McCarthy trains Liguria; trainer Phil D’Amato entered four – Public Assembly, Misson of Joy, and comebackers Hang the Moon and Musical Rhapsody. The 1 1/16-mile Yellow Ribbon is weird due to a conspicuous lack of pace.
McCarthy is outnumbered by D’Amato, but McCarthy’s lone starter is very good. Liguria, who began her career on the East Coast, joined the McCarthy stable this winter at Santa Anita, and made an immediate impact in three starts.
After a third-place comeback, Liguria won the Grade 2 Buena Vista and finished third in the Grade 1 Gamely. Liguria has a short-term trend in her favor Saturday in the Yellow Ribbon: The last three winners were dropping from the Gamely, as is Liguria. She has not raced since May, but McCarthy said she is ready.
“Training very well, looking forward to seeing what she does here this weekend,” McCarthy said. Umberto Rispoli rides Liguria.
D’Amato’s foursome includes Public Assembly and Hang the Moon. Public Assembly won the Grade 3 Royal Heroine at Santa Anita, then ran fifth in the Gamely.
“I think I had her over the top in that race,” D’Amato said. “She chased the run-off speed, and that just wasn’t her style.”
Public Assembly won her first two California starts rallying from midpack. Her rider is Antonio Fresu. However, like Liguria, Public Assembly is a late-runner in a field short on pace. D’Amato also entered Hang the Moon, a two-time Grade 2 winner making her first start since she tailed off late last year.
“We ran her every month going into the Breeders’ Cup, and I think it took its toll,” D’Amato said.
Hang the Moon, last in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, subsequently finished sixth as the odds-on favorite in Grade 3 Robert Frankel on Dec. 27.
“She’s doing really well, nice and freshened up,” D’Amato said. “She’s happy filly, she’s come back as good as ever.”
Kazushi Kimura rides Hang the Moon.
D’Amato also entered Musical Rhapsody, a comebacker using the Yellow Ribbon as a possible prep for the CTT & TOC Stakes next week. Mission of Joy, a Grade 3 winner making her California debut, is the fourth D’Amato entrant. D’Amato has started four runners in a graded stakes 11 times, winning seven of those races.
Watchtower won the Grade 3 Autumn Miss against 3-year-old fillies last winter. The Yellow Ribbon is her first start since January.
“She’s gained weight, she’s a little bigger and stronger,” trainer Richard Baltas said. “I think she’s better than she was last year.”
Mirco Demuro rides Watchtower. Others in the Yellow Ribbon include East Coast shipper Heredia and locally based Mahina. The Yellow Ribbon leads to the Grade 2 John C. Mabee Stakes for turf fillies and mares on Sept. 6 at 1 1/8 miles.
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