Anisette Aims to Keep Building Résumé in Yellow Ribbon

Published by Kelsey Marshall Hughes on August 8, 2024 • Eclipse News

By: Sean Collins BloodHorse

Already a three-time grade 1 winner, Anisette  attempts to tally another stakes victory to her growing résumé in the $200,000 Yellow Ribbon Handicap (G2T) at Del Mar Aug. 10.

Showing no signs of rust when returning from a five-month layoff, the daughter of Awtaad  bested some of California’s best turf fillies and mares May 27 in the Gamely Stakes (G1T) at Santa Anita Park.

Video: Gamely S. (G1T)

An earner of $786,81, the 4-year-old filly will carry the Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners silks onto the Del Mar turf course, where she holds a 2-for-2 record. Regular rider Umberto Rispoli will climb aboard for trainer Leonard Powell.

A six-time winner who has not placed outside the top two since her debut, Anisette’s decorated history leads to carrying the field’s highest weight at 126 pounds, six more than Bellabel  and Uncorked .

Bellabel showed her ability three starts back in the Feb. 3 Megahertz Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita Park, taking the field gate to wire for a one-length victory. Unable to get a comfortable lead to herself since, the 5-year-old mare appears to be the speed of the race on paper and enters off a bullet five-furlong work for trainer Phil D’Amato in 1:00 2/5 over the Del Mar turf Aug. 4.

For the first time, D’Amato tasks Kazushi Kimura with guiding the daughter of Belardo  for owners Agave Racing Stable, Benowitz Family Trust, CYBT, Michael Nentwig, and Ray Pagano.

D’Amato also saddles Uncorked for The Elkstone Group, who won the April 27 Royal Heroine Stakes (G3T) for the trainer after her aforementioned stablemate faded from a speed duel.

Brought back against Anisette in the Gamely, jockey Frankie Dettori and Uncorked found themselves in traffic late in the stretch and had to step on the breaks before the wire. The 5-year-old Pierro  mare finished last of eight but was only beaten 4 1/2 lengths. With Dettori spending the summer on the East Coast, Antonio Fresu gains the mount.

D’Amato’s chances don’t end there as he added a third for good measure in Lucky Girl , owned by Kia-Ora Stud Australia.

Fourth to Closing Remarks  in this race last year, the daughter of Exceed And Excel  has been shortened in distance since. Her return to 1 1/16 miles is made with Hector Berrios in the saddle for the second time.

Trainer Brendan Walsh ships in Fuente Ovejuna  from the Midwest, fresh off her victory in the Indiana General Assembly Distaff Handicap at Horseshoe Indianapolis July 6. The Farfellow Farm mare picks up the meet’s leading rider through Aug. 7, Juan Hernandez.

Thor-Bred Stables’ Ever Smart  rounds out the field on the far outside. The 7-year-old Broken Vow mare makes her second start off a layoff for trainer Neil Drysdale and jockey Mike Smith.

The Yellow Ribbon is race 8 with post time at 5:30 p.m. PT.