Hibaayeb Invades for Yellow Ribbon
Turning Top, who won the Redondo Beach and Beverly Hills Handicap over the local turf course during the spring-summer meet, is one of nine fillies and mares scheduled to run in the grassy Yellow Ribbon.
Owned by Michael Tabor and trained by Simon Callaghan, the 4-year-old Irish bred daughter of Pivotal and the Cadeaux Generaux mare Pietra Dura has won six of 16 and earned $176,943. She won the Beverly Hills in her only other try at 1 ¼ miles, the Yellow Ribbon distance.
Gypsy’s Warning, a South African bred owned by Team Valor International and Green Lantern Stables and trained by Graham Motion, will be making her first start in California.
Third in the Beverly D., a Grade I, on Aug. 21 at Arlington Park, the 5-year-old daughter of Mogok and the Royal Chalice mare Gypsy Queen has won six of 14 and banked $311,862.
No worse than third in 11 races since being claimed for $16,000 by trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, who co-owns the 5-year-old mare with Team Green, last Dec. 10 at Golden Gate, Lilly Fa Pootz will be making her Grade I debut.
She was second and third in pair of Grade II’s – the John C. Mabee and Palomar Handicap – at Del Mar. The daughter of Gilded Time and the Fit to Fight mare Dark Rhythm has eight wins in 29 tries – four of the wins have come since the claim – and has earned $252,492.
A 3-year-old Singspiel filly out of the Lion Cavern mare Lady Zonda, Hibaayeb will be making her first start in the United States for Godolphin and trainer Saeed bin Suroor.
Far back in the Yorkshire Oaks, a Group I on Aug. 19 at York captured by the brilliant Midday, Hibaayeb has won two of 10 and earned $369,871. She won a Group I as a 2-year-old, taking the Fillies Mile by three-quarters of a length on Sept. 26, 2009 at Ascot.
Restless Soul, Go Forth North, Princess Taylor, Princess Haya and Sweet and Flawless are also entered.
From inside out, the field for the 34th Yellow Ribbon: Lilly Fa Pootz, Joe Talamo rides, 123 pounds; Restless Soul, Patrick Valenzuela, 123; Gypsy’s Warning, Mike Smith, 123; Go Forth North, Omar Berrio, 120; Princess Taylor, Victor Espinoza, 123; Princess Haya, Corey Nakatani, 123; Sweet and Flawless, Junior Alvarado, 123; Turning Top, Brice Blanc, 123 and Hibaayeb, Rafael Bejarano, 120.