The $200,000 Yellow Ribbon Handicap (G2T) at Del Mar Aug. 4 is not lacking for class.
Ten of the 12 entrants are stakes winners, seven are graded winners, and the two who haven't won a stakes have placed in graded races.
But while the quality is there, there's also a common thread of inconsistency. The turf distaff division in Southern California is often a revolving door, and back-to-back victories are exceedingly rare.
That could bode well for Bran Jam Stable and David Clark's Fahan Mura, who has been on a roll since she arrived in California at the start of the year.
First in the claiming ranks and then in allowance company, the Pennsylvania-bred English Channel filly trained by Vladimir Cerin earned her first stakes victory in the July 20 Osunitas Stakes at Del Mar and is undefeated in five starts on the turf in Southern California. Her only loss for Cerin came when she shipped back to New York (where she was previously) and ran sixth in the June 8 New York Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G2T), where she set a torrid pace, opened up an 8 1/2-length lead, and was only beaten five lengths at the wire.
BALAN: Fahan Mura Speeds to First Stakes Win in Osunitas
"Class might affect the rest of them, but she's so fast, nobody runs next to her, so she's not affected by anyone else's class," Cerin said. "(The owners) moved her here for the Ship and Stay program at Santa Anita, and obviously we didn't think much of her, because I ran her for (a) $32,000 (claiming price) twice. But then she got good."
Cerin said the quick turnaround from the Osunitas may lead him to scratch the filly he describes as "private," and if he does decide to withdraw, she could turn up next in the Aug. 15 CTT and TOC Stakes or the Sept. 1 John C. Mabee Stakes (G2T) at Del Mar.
"She's not a toy," Cerin said. "I play with some of my fillies and give them treats, but she takes hers and doesn't want to be pet. She's her own woman."
Another filly entered who is capable of putting together a pair of top performances is likely favorite Cambodia, who won the Yellow Ribbon and Mabee back-to-back in 2017 for Winter Quarter Farm and trainer Tom Proctor.
BALAN: Cambodia Ships in, Takes Yellow Ribbon
The War Front mare hasn't won since, but she's also been racing against top-level competition. She wrapped up her 5-year-old season with two more races at Del Mar—a third in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) and a fourth in the Matriarch Stakes (G1T)—then finished off the board in two 2018 starts, the Coolmore Jenny Wiley Stakes (G1T) at Keeneland and the Longines Just a Game Stakes (G1T) at Belmont Park.
Other graded winners in the field are Beau Recall, Midnight Crossing, Storm the Hill, Madame Stripes, Sophie P, and Ancient Secret.
Del Mar, Saturday, August 04, 2018, Race 8Entries: Yellow Ribbon H. (G2T)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Beau Recall (IRE)
Corey S. Nakatani
120
Simon Callaghan
8/1
2
2Sassy Little Lila (KY)
Tyler Baze
117
Richard E. Mandella
15/1
3
3Midnight Crossing (IRE)
Tiago Josue Pereira
118
Richard Baltas
20/1
4
4Hallie Belle (KY)
Joe Bravo
117
Michael Stidham
10/1
5
5Tisbutadream (IRE)
Tyler Conner
116
Ben D. A. Cecil
20/1
6
6Storm the Hill (KY)
Rafael Bejarano
120
Philip D'Amato
9/2
7
7Madame Stripes (ARG)
Geovanni Franco
120
Neil D. Drysdale
8/1
8
8Sophie P (GB)
Kent J. Desormeaux
122
James M. Cassidy
8/1
9
9Ancient Secret (NY)
Mike E. Smith
119
Philip D'Amato
8/1
98
10Fahan Mura (PA)
SCRATCHED
0
UNKNOWN
-
10
11Cambodia (KY)
Drayden Van Dyke
121
Thomas F. Proctor
7/2
11
12Pantsonfire (IRE)
Alonso Quinonez
118
Richard Baltas
20/1