Zenyatta's Niece Takes Yellow Ribbon
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She's Not Here, or Zenyatta's "cousin" as jockey Mike Smith describes her, won with a furious rally in the middle of the Del Mar stretch Sept. 6 to take the $200,000 Yellow Ribbon Handicap (gr. IIT).
The 4-year-old daughter of Street Cry (IRE) is out of minor stakes winner Where's Bailey, a half sister by Aljabr to the multiple champion and 2010 Horse of the Year. Zenyatta's sire is Street Cry.
"I thought she was capable of something like this," said Smith after She's Not Here won by half a length over 3-1 co-favorite Prize Exhibit. "I think the mare is just finding herself. I wouldn't be surprised to see her in the Breeders' Cup."
She's Not Here is owned by G. Watts Humphrey Jr. and St. George Farm Racing. Humphrey bought the filly for $190,000 at the 2012 Keeneland September yearling sale from Hermitage Farm, which co-bred the filly with Darley. She is trained by Victoria Oliver, who is Humphrey's daughter.
Tracking near the back of the 11-horse field and three wide through most the race, Smith must not have worried about She's Not Here having enough in the tank at the end of the 1 1/8-mile contest. Istanford assumed the role of pacesetter and took the field through brisk :22.92 opening quarter, a half in a more moderate :46.47, and six furlongs in 1:11.03.
His instincts were spot on. At the top of the stretch, She's Not Here lined up with four other challengers on the lead. Within a few strides, she had hooked up alongside Prize Exhibit and the two battled all the way to wire. Lady Pimpernel was a length back in third. The final time of 1:41.66.
The Yellow Ribbon was She's Not Here's first stakes win. The closest she'd come previously had been a third-place finish in the Boiling Springs Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Monmouth Park a year ago.
She's Not Here paid $14.80, $7.20, and $5.40. Prize Exhibit paid $5 and $3.20, while Lady Pimpernel returned $4.40 to show.
Blingismything finished fourth followed by Notte d'Oro, Customer Base, Alexis Tangier, co-favorite Queen of The Sand, Thegirlinthatsong, and Istanford.