Without much national fanfare, MAGICAL FANTASY (Diesis [GB]) has developed
into the West Coast’s leading older filly or mare on turf this season with
consecutive scores in the Santa Barbara H. (G2), Gamely S. (G1) and John C.
Mabee S. (G1). The Paddy Gallagher trainee might start bringing more attention
on herself if she can make it four straight in Saturday’s $300,000
Yellow Ribbon S. (G1), a course-and-distance prep for the November 6
Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) over 1 1/4 miles.
Having recorded two bullet works over the local sod in recent weeks, Magical
Fantasy appears to be entering the Yellow Ribbon in fine shape. The upset winner
of the Del Mar Oaks (G1) last season, the chestnut kicked off her campaign this
year with a second and fourth on the Pro-Ride during the Santa Anita winter meet
before returning to the turf in the Santa Barbara. She eked out a photo-finish
win there and in the Gamely, but expanded her margin to a length in the Mabee.
She will be ridden, as usual, by Alex Solis in the Yellow Ribbon.
BLACK MAMBA (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe) is zero-for-eight on the Santa Anita
turf, but has placed in all but one of those attempts. She’s recorded a pair of
third-place finishes in the last two editions of the Yellow Ribbon, but enters
off a subpar score in a minor 11-furlong stakes at Del Mar where she narrowly
defeated LEMON CHIFFON (Lemon Drop Kid) and ROSA GRACE (GB) (Lomitas [GB]).
INTERNALLYFLAWLESS (Giant’s Causeway), who pulled off a minor upset of this
season’s Del Mar Oaks on August 22, is the only three-year-old among the field
of eight, but trainer Bob Baffert might opt instead for next Saturday’s Queen
Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) at Keeneland.
The rest of the Yellow Ribbon field consists of CHARMING LEGACY (Ire)
(Danehill), a head second to Black Mamba in the Beverly Hills H. (G2) two back;
VISIT (GB) (Oasis Dream), whose best finish in eight U.S. starts was a neck
second to Magical Fantasy in the Gamely; and Glens Falls H. (G2) runner-up LEMONETTE (Lemon Drop Kid).
COWBOY CAL (Giant’s Causeway), who dropped two straight to the up-and-coming
Justenuffhumor (Distorted Humor) at Saratoga, will hit the road for Saturday’s
$150,000
Oak
Tree Mile (G2). The multiple Grade 2 winner won the San Pasqual H. (G2) at
Strub S. (G2) on the Pro-Ride last winter, but is a proven top-level competitor
on grass.
Though Justneuffhumor will be racing at Keeneland, the Oak Tree Mile might
not be necessarily easier for Cowboy Cal. Among his rivals are Eddie Read S.
(G1) victor GLOBAL HUNTER (Arg) (Jade Hunter), American H. (G2) hero MONTEREY
JAZZ (Thunderello), and multiple Grade 2 veteran WHATSTHESCRIPT (Ire) (Royal
Applause [GB]).
Others of interest in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) prep are Del Mar Mile (G2)
runner-up ALLICANSAYISWOW (Street Cry [Ire]); SKYRUSH (Arg) (Orpen), who upset
the Harry F. Brubaker S. in his American debut; the progressive allowance winner
TIMES GONE BY (Giant’s Causeway); and POLONIUS (Broken Vow), who captured the
course-and-distance Pasadena S. and Hollywood Park’s Will Rogers S. (G3) in 2008 and is making
his second start following a layoff of more than 14 months.