Winning for the eighth time in 11 U.S. starts, Irish-bred Going Global cruised to an easy three-length victory over a half-dozen filly and mare rivals in Saturday's Grade 2, $250,000 Yellow Ribbon Handicap at Del Mar.
Carrying the 125-pound high weight (conceding five to eight pounds to the others) and jockey Umberto Rispoli, the Phil D'Amato-trained Going Global was sent away as the 3-5 favorite and paid $3.40 after covering 1 1/16 miles on firm turf in 1:41.18. French-bred Avenue of France, ridden by Juan Hernandez, finished second, with pacesetter Javanica and Drayden Van Dyke holding third by a head over Irish-bred Burgoo Alley and Ramon Vazquez.
Going Global races for John Rochfort's CYBT, Michael Dubb, Saul Gevertz, Michael Nentwig, and Ray Pagano.
Rispoli put Going Global in fourth, a couple of paths off the rail in the early going as Javanica outran Park Avenue and Burgoo Alley for the lead. Javanica set fractions of :23.88 for the opening quarter mile, :48.16 for the half, and 1:12.13 for six furlongs as the field made its way to the far turn.
Rounding the final bend, Going Global moved up on the leading trio on her own, and put her head in front at the top of the stretch. She drew away quickly, leading by 2 1/2 at the eighth pole and held sway to the wire.
“When you ride one like her, you're feeling very well,” said Rispoli. “I was excited to ride her today. When we came out of the turn, she gave me another gear. Then it was all over. She did it; I didn't do a thing.”
Going Global, a 4-year-old filly by Mehmas out of Wrood, by Invasor, won one of four starts in Ireland in 2020 before joining D'Amato's barn, where she made her debut a winning one in the G3 Sweet Life Stakes at Santa Anita in February 2021. She added three more stakes wins before losing in the G2 San Clemente at Del Mar in 2021, then bounced back to win the G1 Del Mar Oaks. Going Global won again at Del Mar in the G2 Goldikova on the Breeders' Cup undercard in November before struggling home sixth in the G1 American Oaks at Santa Anita after the race was moved from turf to dirt because of wet conditions.
After a break of a few months, Going Global won her 2022 debut in the G2 Royal Heroine at Santa Anita, then ran third to Ocean Road there in the G1 Gamely on May 30 in her start prior to the Yellow Ribbon
“I thought Umberto had her perfectly placed from the get-go and it was just a matter of when he was going to press the button. When he did, she responded. All credit to Umberto and the filly and we'll move on to the Mabee (G2 John C. Mabee Stakes Sept. 10 at Del Mar).”
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