Beau Recall bests a hard-luck Storm the Hill in Yellow Ribbon

Eastern invader Beau Recall and jockey Drayden Van Dyke surged along the rail and just got up in the final stride to beat pacesetter Storm the Hill by a nose in the $200,000 Yellow Ribbon Stakes (G2) at Del Mar on Saturday. 

Breaking from post No. 1, Beau Recall saved ground while comfortably tracking fractions of :23.98, 48.02 and 1:12.09 carved by Storm the Hill and jockey Rafael Bejarano.

Storm the Hill continued to motor on the lead through six furlongs in 1:12.09 and looked to be a likely winner in deep stretch. 

However, making a sustained run along the rail came Beau Recall.

In the final jump, Beau Recall looked like she may have gotten her nose down in time.

Minutes later, the photo confirmed it to be a tough-luck loss for Storm the Hill.

Beau Recall completed 1 1/16-miles in 1:41.23 and paid $6.80 to win.

Odds-on favorite Vasilika, a perfect 4-for-4 this season, could do no better than third after mounting a mild bid in the stretch.

After that tough beat, Bejarano was an understandably dejected jockey.

"She tried. I can't believe she got beat," Bejarano said. "I knew I had to beat the 4 (Vasilika) and I had her. Then that other filly slips up on me. I can't believe I got beat."

Cox did not come west with Beau Recall, instead sending assistant Donnie Balthazar in his stead. 

"Brad just told me to keep her happy and get her to the race happy and healthy," Balthazar said. "Brad called Drayden earlier today and then Drayden and I just touched base before the race to go over what Brad said. After that, it was him and her."

It was a triumphant return to Southern California for Beau Recall.

She spent last season on the circuit with little success.

She was twice beaten by Vasilika during that stretch, and once by Storm the Hills, before being transferred east to trainer Brad Cox in the winter.  

Beau Recall has perked up for the new barn this year, previously scoring victories in the New Orleans Ladies and Distaff Turf Mile at Churchill Downs before a game runner-up finish in the Just a Game (G2) at Belmont Park last time out. 

A 5-year-old daughter of Sir Prancealot, Beau Recall has won seven of 24 starts and earned more than $990,000 for owners Slam Dunk Racing or Medallion Racing.