Published Saturday, August 30th, 2014   ( 9 years ago )

Yellow Ribbon Headlines
Del Mar Holiday Program

 

Nine evenly-matched older fillies and mares will clash Monday in the Grade II $200,000 Yellow Ribbon Handicap, headline event of an attractive 11-race Labor Day holiday program at Del Mar.

Post time for the first race Monday is 2 p.m. The 2014 Del Mar racing season will end Wednesday, featuring the Grade I $300,000 Del Mar Futurity for two-year-olds.

Carded at nine furlongs over the infield Jimmy Durante Turf Course, the Yellow Ribbon Handicap shapes up as a wide-open contest without a clear-cut favorite.

Packing highweight of 122 pounds will be Argentine-bred Miss Serendipity, with Brice Blanc in the saddle. Miss Serendipity was a troubled sixth and last as the favorite in the John C. Mabee Stakes August 10. However, prior to that race, she won the Grade I Gamely at Santa Anita.

Third behind Miss Serendipity in the Gamely was Parranda, who will pack 121 pounds after running third in the Clement L. Hirsch on the main track. Elvis Trujillo has the call on Parranda, winner of the Royal Heroine in late June at Santa Anita.

In at 120 pounds is Stormy Lucy, to be ridden by Rafael Bejarano. She won the Santa Ana and Santa Barbara Handicap last winter at Santa Anita. Other contenders in the field are Wishing Gate (119), with Drayden Van Dyke; Cozze Up Lady (119), Kent Desormeaux; Heat Du Jour (115), Alex Solis; Need You Now (115), Corey Nakatani; Bunairgead (114), Joe Talamo, and Winning Rhythm (114), Mike Smith.

Supporting features on the holiday card are the $150,000 I’m Smokin Stakes for California-bred two-year-olds at six furlongs on the main track and the $100,000 Oak Tree Juvenile Fillies Turf  for two-year-old fillies at one mile on the grass.