Yellow Ribbon Handicap 2014 at Del Mar

Las Vegas, NV - The Grade 2 Del Mar Race Track comes our way from Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in California this Labor Day Monday, September 1. Fillies and mares three years old and upward will be featured as they go 1 1/16 miles in Del Mar's turf track for a purse of $200,000.

Nine equally matched older fillies and mares will take part in the Yellow Ribbon including a quartet from the recent John C. Mabee Stakes. It is race 9 on Del Mar's Labor Day Monday card with a post time of 6:00 PM. Let's take a peek into the past performances of all nine entries for this Grade 2 stakes

2014 Yellow Ribbon Handicap Race Favorite Entries

Miss Serendipity - will make her seventh North American start for trainer Ronald McAnally after 19 starts in Argentina yielded five wins, five seconds and two third place finishes. Her debut here was a troubled fourth as favorite in the minor Paseana Stakes January 12 which she followed with another fourth in her North American graded stakes debut - the Grade 2 Buena Vista here February 17 and an OK third in the Grade 3 Santa Ana Stakes March 16. She had certainly picked up her game in the spring - a win over Emollient in the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes at Santa Anita followed a second in the Grade 3 Santa Barbara Handicap in April. But she fell back to earth last time out finishing a troubled last of six as favorite in the Grade 2 John C. Mabee Stakes here August 10. Miss Serendipity had been steadily improving before a hiccup last time out - hopes are that she can regain her form. Brice Blanc gets the call aboard the 122 top weight from the outside post.

Parranda - won the Millions Filly and Mare Turf Preview Stakes at Gulfstream in November and the Florida Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf January 18 and went on to another win - in the Grade 3 Suwannee River Stakes in gate-to-wire fashion February 8 with a fourth in the Grade 3 My Charmer Handicap in December sandwiched in there. Last time out was an OK third in the competitive Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes here August 2 after yet another win in the Grade 2 Royal Heroine Stakes June 28, an OK third behind Miss Serendipity as 2-1 favorite in the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes May 26, a victory in the Grade 3 Wilshire April 27 and a disappointing sixth in the Grade 2 Honey Fox Stakes at Gulfstream March 15. Parranda has won four of her last seven starts (all stakes races) with some minor stumbles along the way but looks good ahead of this weekend. Elvis Trujillo has the mount from post 7 for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer looking for Parranda`s fifth stakes win this year.

Yellow Ribbon Handicap 2014 | Remaining Contenders

Stormy Lucy - had an ugly eleventh in the 2012 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf and was forced into a seven month layoff. She returned and finished fifth in the 2013 Royal Heroine and has been up and down since. This year she has had her share of triumphs and disappointments. She comes off an OK fourth in the Grade 2 John C. Mabee Stakes here August 10 after a disappointing seventh in the Grade 2 Royal Heroine June 28, a pedestrian fourth in the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes here May 26 and a nice two race win streak - the competitive Grade 2 Santa Ana Stakes March 16 and in the Grade 3 Santa Barbara Handicap in April. Stormy Lucy was on top of her game just five months ago and hopes to regain that form with Rafael Bejarano in the saddle from the rail.

Wishing Gate - Thomas Proctor trained filly has just three starts in 2014 - a fifth as favorite behind Parranda in the minor Florida Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf, a fourth in the Grade 2 Royal Heroine at Santa Anita June 28 and a good second after leading nearly the whole way last time out in the Grade 2 John C. Mabee Stakes here August 10. She now has four wins and four seconds in 14 career starts. Wishing Gate posted a win in the Grade 3 Autumn Miss Stakes October 26, 2013 which followed a second to Discreet Marq in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks, a good win in her stakes debut - the Grade 2 San Clemente at 5-1 odds at Del Mar July 21 and an Allowance Optional Claiming score at Arlington Park June 23. She was terrific at this time last year and may be rounding back into form on a track she has two wins and two seconds in five starts after an unflattering start to her 2014 campaign. Drayden Van Dyke will be in charge of Wishing Gate from post 6.

Yellow Ribbon Handicap betting online at Del Mar Race Track with OffTrackBetting.com

Heat Du Jour - Jerry Hollendorfer trained filly is coming off a nice win by an impressive three lengths in the restricted Solana Beach Handicap here August 17 after a sixth in an Allowance Optional Claiming on this track, a second in a Starter Handicap and a Claiming and an Allowance score in the Spring. She has 23 career starts with five wins, two seconds and four third place finishes and has placed in six of 10 starts this year. Alex Solis will be aboard this intriguing filly from post 4.

Cozze Up Lady - Kent Desormeaux trained mare is coming off an OK third in the Grade 2 John C. Mabee Stakes here August 10 after a nice win in the restricted Osunitas Stakes at 11-1 odds on this track July 19 and three sketchy results - a seventh in the Grade 3 Chicago Handicap June 28, a fourth in the Grade 3 Winning Colors Stakes in May and a sixth in the Grade 1 Madison Stakes in April. This after a nice three race win streak including the minor Mardi Gras Stakes and the 2013 Chicago Handicap. Cozze Up Lady has 17 career starts with seven wins, two seconds and three third place finishes and hopes to keep the upward trend going after struggling earlier this year. Keith Desormeaux will be in charge of Cozze Up Lady from gate 5.

Need You Now - Irish bred filly had two wins in four starts in Ireland before shipping to North America where she finished fifth in her debut here in the minor Runway Stakes at Santa Anita April 13, 2013. She went on to a fourth in the Grade 3 Senorita Stakes May 11 and had a nice win in the minor Le Cle Stakes at Hollywood Park July 7. She has failed to place in her last four starts however - a sixth after setting the pace in the competitive Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks last August 17, and three consecutive fourths including the Grade 3 Autumn Miss Stakes in October and the minor Luther Burbank Handicap in her only start of 2014 - July 27. Corey Nakatani will be in charge from post 2.

Bunairgead - Irish bred filly has 12 starts at home with two wins, three seconds and two third place finishes including a stakes score last July. She was out of racing for nearly a year before returning to the track August 14 and finishing fourth in her North American debut - an Allowance on this track. Joe Talamo has the call from post 3 Monday.

Winning Rhythm - has eight career starts with two wins, two seconds and two third place finishes for trainer Patrick Gallagher but makes her stakes debut Monday. Last time out was an Allowance Optional Claiming score here July 26 after a DNF, a third and a second in a trio of Allowance Optional Claiming races at Santa Anita. She has looked OK against lesser competition and takes her huge step up in competition with Mike Smith in the irons from gate 8.