She's Not Here Edges Prize Exhibit in Yellow Ribbon

G. Watts Humphrey, Jr. and St. George Farm Racing's She’s Not Here wore down Prize Exhibit in the last two hundred yards to score her first stakes win in the $200,000 Yellow Ribbon Handicap (gr. II) Sunday at Del Mar.

It was a picture perfect day that saw Triple Crown winner American Pharoah paraded in front of a large crowd between the fourth and fifth races. This was the fourth renewal of The Yellow Ribbon Handicap, which was formerly called the Palomar Handicap, and been won by such standouts as Kilijaro (IRE), Super Staff, Tuzla (FR), Tranquility Lake, and 2005 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf winner Intercontinental (GB).

Twelve were entered but only ten went to the gate, as Famous Alice and Stormy Lucy were scratched from the race. Breaking from the outside in a field of 10, and going off at 6-1, She’s Not Here sat in seventh, just behind Prize Exhibit, who was fifth as the early leader Istanford carved out a quick opening quarter of 22.92. After three quarters in 1:11.03 the tempo quickened, and it was clear on the far turn this was going to be a two horse race, as She’s Not Here made her move on the outside of co-favorite Prize Exhibit.

Those two raced as a team around the final turn, and as they straightened away for the wire, Istanford began to shorten stride, as Prize Exhibit took over by a head over She’s Not Here. That lead was short lived, however, as She’s Not Here gradually wore her down over the last 100 yards and crossed the wire a half-length in front. Lady Pimpernel closed belatedly a length and three quarters back in third, and Blingismything was fourth. The final time of the race was 1:41.66, and both the winner and the runner-up carried 117 pounds.

Ridden by Mike Smith, who had won this race once before in 2010, with Gotta Have Her, after the race said, “They told me that when she ran, she would start dancing in the parade, just like Zenyatta used to do. When I rode her last time (allowance win here August 6), she never danced. But today, as we were coming through the tunnel, she started to dance. I said; ‘Oh, oh, here we go.’ We had a perfect trip; it couldn’t have worked out any better. This was a real good one.”

Victoria Oliver trains the winner who was bred by Hermitage Farm LLC & Darley. This was the first stakes win of the meet, and first in the Yellow Ribbon for Oliver, who said of the filly that, “She travels really well and she’s one of those fillies that’s very versatile, that’s why we brought her out here. The plan was to run in an allowance race and then the Yellow Ribbon and it worked out. It doesn’t always, but this time it did. I didn’t think there would be as much pace because there was only one speed horse, but they went pretty quick up front. She had to circle wide, but she likes being on the outside and Mike (Smith) rode her perfect.”

The victory in the Yellow Ribbon raises She’s Not Here’s lifetime record to 16-5-1-3, and with the $120,000 winner’s share, her earnings jumped to $276,569.