Tie a Winning Yellow Ribbon around Miss Serendipity

Tell me if you’ve heard this one before … Hall of Famer Ron McAnally wins a big stakes race in California with an Argentine import. Sure you have, and today at Del Mar the 82-year-old legendary trainer proved that his own personal Argentina to California pipeline is alive and well.

His newest star to come from South America is Miss Serendipity, and this afternoon’s holiday edition of the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Handicap became her second graded stakes score in the U.S., as she came from well back to storm to the front late on her way to a 1 ¼-length victory over Parranda.

Ridden by Brice Blanc, Miss Serendipity was content to sit back and watch the race unfold in front of her, as long shot Need You Now set all the early fractions of :23.56, :47.54, and 1:11.15 for the first three-quarters. As the field of fillies and mares bunched up spinning out of the far turn, Miss Serendipity swung to the far outside, but was still seventh at the top of the lane. She began picking off horses, though, and by the time they had completed a mile, she looked like it was her race to win. Sure enough, Miss Serendipity kept right on motoring and hit the finish line as the best, going away from the rest.

"She was relaxed out there, so I wasn't too concerned," said Blanc. "I was following two in front of me, but they didn't quicken quite like I thought they would so I had to ease out and go around when we straightened. She has that nice kick and we got it done."  

The 9-2 second choice in the field of eight, Miss Serendipity completed the 1 1/16 miles over the firm turf in 1:40.98, while shouldering the race high impost of 122 pounds. The 9-5 favorite, Parranda outgamed Cozze Up Lady to the wire for second, while Stormy Lucy rallied up to compete the superfecta.

With the Yellow Ribbon victory Miss Serendipity raised her lifetime record to 26-7-6-3. Since coming to the States, the dark bay mare has won 2-of-7 while running exclusively in Southern Californian stakes racing. Her other victory in America was also a big one as she accounted for the Grade 1 Gamely at Santa Anita two starts back. Most recently she had failed as the favorite in the Grade 2 John C. Mabee at Del Mar, but did not have the best of trips that day.

As like so many good horses over the years, most notably Bayakoa and Paseana, this Argentine-bred mare Miss Serendipity has found a successful new home in Southern California under the watchful eye of a true legend of the sport, Ron McAnally.