Jolie Olimpica to Beat in Yellow Ribbon

Fox Hill Farms’ speedy Jolie Olimpica (Brz) (Drosselmeyer), a close runner-up to division leader Rushing Fall (More Than Ready) last out, will go postward as the horse to beat in Saturday’s eight-horse GII Yellow Ribbon S. at Del Mar.

Undefeated in three starts in her native land, capping her Brazilian career with a dominant win over males in the G1 Jockey Club Brasileiro at Gavea last June, the chestnut got off to an auspicious start Stateside when annexing the GIII Las Cienegas S. going 5 1/2 furlongs Jan. 11 at Santa Anita. Getting a clear lead in the GII Buena Vista S. when stretching out to a mile Feb. 22, however, she couldn’t quite stay and settled for second. Rebounding with a score in the GII Monrovia S. back sprinting May 25, she again attempted to stretch her speed in the GI Coolmore Jenny Wiley S. July 11 at Keeneland and again just gave it up late, finishing a narrow second in Rushing Fall’s course-record-setting performance. Drawing outside in a field without other clear speed, she figures to get a dream trip here.

The veteran Beau Recall (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}) also comes in off a runner-up finish to a division leader as she tries for a Yellow Ribbon repeat. Upset winner of last spring’s GII Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile S., she captured this event two starts later before closing her 5-year-old account with a second in the GI Rodeo Drive S. Ninth, while only beaten 2 1/4 lengths, in the GIII Old Forester Mint Julep S. in her seasonal debut May 30 in Louisville, she most recently closed from last to complete the exacta behind wire-to-wire victress Newspaperofrecord (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) in the GI Just A Game S. June 27 at Belmont.

Tommy Town Thoroughbreds’ Keeper Ofthe Stars (Midnight Lute) will attempt to rebound after quickly developing into a division player earlier this year. Last year’s GIII Autumn Miss S. heroine was the one who chased down Jolie Olimpica in the Buena Vista to score a 36-1 upset, then showed that effort was no fluke when taking the GI Gamely S. May 25 in Arcadia. Last time out, however, she finished a dull fifth in the June 20 GIII Wilshire S.

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Beau Recall Back To Defend Her Title In Del Mar’s Yellow Ribbon Handicap

Slam Dunk Racing or Medallion Racing's Beau Recall, who was up by a whisker to win last year's Yellow Ribbon Handicap, has come back to Del Mar to try to make it two-for-two in the Grade II, $150,000 headliner for fillies and mares that will be run this Saturday.

The now 6-year-old mare by the Irish stallion Sir Prancealot brings a record of seven wins and eight seconds from 27 starts to the mile and one-sixteenth grass test, as well as a bankroll that reads $1,101,512. Trainer Brad Cox has shipped his well-traveled charge in from New York to defend her title and has assigned Umberto Rispoli to ride.

In all, eight runners have been entered for the 68th edition of the Yellow Ribbon, but one of them – Fox Hill Farms' Jolie Olimpica – won't make the fray. Trainer Richard Mandella told racing officials that he'll wait for another day to bring out his stakes winning filly.

In any event, here's the entered lineup for the 68th edition of the Yellow Ribbon from the rail out with riders, weights and morning line odds:

Glen Hill Farm's Summering (Drayden Van Dyke, 118, 12-1); Calvin Nguyen's Bodhicitta (Flavien Prat, 120, 6-1); DRJ Racing, Kenney or Strauss' Tonahutu (Victor Espinoza, 15-1); Iavarone, McClanahan or Arntz, et al's Lady Prancealot (Juan Hernandez, 121, 5-1); Agave Racing Stable's Harmless (Ricky Gonzalez, 118, 15-1); Tommy Town Thoroughbreds' Keeper Of the Stars (Abel Cedillo, 123, 7/2); Beau Recall (123, 3-1), and Jolie Olimpica (Mike Smith, 122, 5/2).

Keeper Ofthe Stars, a gray 4-year-old by Midnight Lute, has won seven of her 16 starts, including a smart score this past May 25 in the Grade I Gamely Stakes at Santa Anita. The Jonathan Wong trainee has won more than half a million dollars and has done well with rider Cedillo, her partner Saturday. They've rung up three stakes victories together, including that Gamely tally.

Lady Prancealot has chased home Keeper Of the Stars in her last two outings, but was a double stakes winner in her two starts before that. The Irish-bred filly runs out of the barn of trainer Richard Baltas and can brag of $565,841 in winnings so far. Like most in this field, she's shown a real affinity for the turf.

Bodhicitta rallied to take second in the aforementioned Gamely behind Keeper Ofthe Stars in her best effort to date. The rising 4-year-old by the British stallion Showcasing also comes out of the Baltas barn. She has put in a series of good works at Del Mar for her go in the distaff feature.

The Yellow Ribbon will be Race 9 on the 11-race Saturday program. Also on the card will be the Grade II, $150,000 Best Pal Stakes for 2-year-olds. First post on the afternoon will be 2 p.m.

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