Going Global Gets Top Weight for Yellow Ribbon

Handicaps these days appear about as frequently as consensus between political parties, but Del Mar offers a rare handicap for distaffers Aug. 13 in the form of the $250,000 Yellow Ribbon Handicap (G2T). Seven-time stakes winner Going Global  is set to tote top weight of 125 pounds in the 1 1/16-mile turf stakes, giving five to seven pounds to her six rivals.

"She's a grade 1 winner and it's a handicap, so it's to be expected," said Phil D'Amato, Going Global's trainer. 

In three 2021 Del Mar starts, Going Global captured the Del Mar Oaks (G1T) and Goldikova Stakes Presented by PNC (G2T) and finished second in the San Clemente Stakes (G2T). In the latter, she lost by just a half-length after being in tight quarters in upper stretch.

Now 4, the daughter of Mehmas  won the April 9 Royal Heroine Stakes (G2T) in her first 2022 start and ran third in the May 30 Gamely Stakes (G1T), both at Santa Anita. D'Amato trains Going Global for the partnership of CYBT, Michael Dubb, Saul Gevertz, Michael Nentwig, and Ray Pagano. Umberto Rispoli, who won the Royal Heroine with Going Global the only time he has ridden her, returns aboard the filly from post 2.

"She's training very well, and I think she drew a nice post," said D'Amato. "She should be up for the challenge. She likes this turf course and likes training on this turf course. Her best breeze was her last breeze, and that's always the signal that she's ready to race."

Currently in a tie for leading trainer at Del Mar with Bob Baffert, D'Amato will also send out Burgoo Alley , for owners Agave Racing Stable and Living The Dream Stables. The 4-year-old daughter of Footstepsinthesand  won the 2021 Autumn Miss Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita and hasn't started in six months. She has been assigned 119 pounds, with Ramon Vazquez to ride from post 6.

"She's on the improve as well," said D'Amato. "We just freshened her up, and this will be her first race back for the year. She's training very well. She's been training alongside Going Global, and I expect her to be fit enough to run a good race as well."

Park Avenue  and Flippant , each coming off a stakes victory outside of California, are set to carry 120 pounds. John Sadler trains 4-year-old Park Avenue (Quality Road  ), who traveled to Lone Star Park and won the May 30 Ouija Board Distaff Stakes. She is 2-for-2 on the turf and will break from post 5 with Victor Espinoza. Victoria Oliver trains 4-year-old Flippant (Tapit  ), who is based in the Midwest and East and captured the July 9 Indiana General Assembly Distaff Stakes at Horseshoe Indianapolis. Joe Bravo rides from post 7.

Avenue de France , assigned 119 pounds with Juan Hernandez riding from post 1, already has a victory at the current Del Mar meeting for trainer Leonard Powell. She won the July 23 Osunitas Stakes after finishing second in the Ouija Board.

Javanica  (Drayden Van Dyke, post 3) and Rocking Redhead  (Hector Berrios, post 4) each has been handed 118 pounds. Javanica finished second in the Royal Heroine, while Rocking Redhead ran third in the Osunitas.

Entries: Yellow Ribbon H. (G2T)

Del Mar, Saturday, August 13, 2022, Race 6

• Grade IIT
• 1 1/16m
• Turf
• $250,000
• 3 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
• 4:34 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Avenue de France (FR)	Juan J. Hernandez	119	Leonard Powell	4/1
2	2Going Global (IRE)	Umberto Rispoli	125	Philip D'Amato	6/5
3	3Javanica (KY)	Drayden Van Dyke	118	Eoin G. Harty	12/1
4	4Rocking Redhead (KY)	Hector Isaac Berrios	118	George Papaprodromou	12/1
5	5Park Avenue (KY)	Victor Espinoza	120	John W. Sadler	4/1
6	6Burgoo Alley (IRE)	Ramon A. Vazquez	119	Philip D'Amato	10/1
7	7Flippant (KY)	Joe Bravo	120	Victoria H. Oliver	4/1