Godolphin’s HIBAAYEB (GB) (Singspiel [Ire]) had been disappointing on
rain-softened ground in Europe of late, but a trip to Southern California in
search of firm turf paid dividends in Saturday’s $250,000
Yellow Ribbon S. (G1) at Oak Tree at Hollywood. Under a stalk-and-pounce
trip engineered by Rafael Bejarano, the Saeed bin Suroor pupil wore down a game
Turning Top (Ire) (Pivotal) by a length to complete a bicoastal double for the
royal blue silks. About four hours earlier, Girolamo (A.P. Indy) had captured
the Vosburgh S. (G1) at Belmont Park for Godolphin.
Hibaayeb was settled just off the pace in fourth, loping outside of Princess
Taylor (GB) (Singspiel [Ire]) in the second flight. They were tracking the
front-running 2-1 favorite Gypsy’s Warning (SAf) (Mogok), who dictated splits of
:24 2/5, :48 2/5 and 1:12 4/5 while facing increasing pressure from Turning Top.
Turning into the stretch, Turning Top was set down in earnest, but Gypsy’s
Warning kept battling on bravely and clung to a narrow advantage to the
eighth-pole.
Turning Top finally mastered Gypsy’s Warning in deep stretch, but Hibaayeb
had already begun to unwind down the center of the course. Although Hibaayeb
took some time to wrest control, the sophomore’s relentless progress gained her
the victory. The 3-1 second choice, Hibaayeb stopped the teletimer in 2:00 2/5
for 1 1/4 firm-turf miles and returned $8.60, $5 and $3.40.
Turning Top gave back $5.60 and $3.40 as the third choice at 9-2, and Gypsy’s
Warning paid $2.20 after finishing a half-length behind Turning Top in third.
Sweet and Flawless (Unbridled’s Song) got up for fourth, outperforming her odds
as the 49-1 longest shot on the board. The $1 exotics were worth $26.80
(exacta), $83.60 (trifecta) and $1,226.10 (9-8-3-7 superfecta). Restless Soul
(GB) (Singspiel [Ire]) wound up fifth, followed by Princess Taylor, Princess
Haya (Street Cry [Ire]), Go Forth North (North Light [Ire]) and Lilly Fa Pootz
(Gilded Time).
Hibaayeb’s third stakes triumph advanced her resume to 11-3-2-2, $519,871,
and all three of those wins have come in major stakes. After placing in her
first two starts in maiden races last year, she was thrown into the May Hill S.
(Eng-G2) at Doncaster by her original trainer, Clive Brittain. Hibaayeb
vindicated the ambitious placement by finishing second, beaten by just a
half-length, and she broke her maiden next time out in the Fillies’ Mile
(Eng-G1) at Ascot.
Hibaayeb was subsequently promoted to the elite Godolphin operation for her
sophomore campaign, but her debut for the team was an inauspicious 16th in the
May 2 One Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1). The dark bay promptly regrouped with a
respectable third to Sarafina (Refuse to Bend [Ire]) in the May 23 Prix
Saint-Alary (Fr-G1), and she then dominated the June 17 Ribblesdale S. (Eng-G2)
at Royal Ascot by 3 3/4 lengths. The proverbial wheels came off for Hibaayeb in
her ensuing starts — the July 18 Irish Oaks (Ire-G1), where she was a long-way
last of 15 as the 3-1 favorite; a seventh-place effort as the 2-1 favorite in
the August 1 Preis der Diana (German Oaks) (Ger-G1); and a remote last of the
seven who took part in the August 19 Yorkshire Oaks (Eng-G1).
Bred by Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd. in Great Britain, Hibaayeb is out of the
winning Lion Cavern mare Lady Zonda, who is also responsible for the Irish
stakes-placed May Meeting (GB) (Diktat). While black type has been thin on the
ground close up in her family, Hibaayeb hails from an excellent female line a
little further back. Her third dam, the unraced Oh So Hot (Habitat), is a full
sister to multiple Group 2 star and successful broodmare Roussalka (GB).
Oh So Hot’s notable half-siblings include the redoubtable Oh So Sharp (Ire)
(Kris), who swept England’s Triple Crown for fillies during her championship
season in 1985. Oh So Sharp has gone on to produce Group 1 victress Rosefinch
(Blushing Groom [Fr]) and Grade 2 winner Shaima (Shareef Dancer), herself the
dam of multiple highweight Shantou (Alleged), hero of the 1996 St Leger
(Eng-G1). Also in the family are 2001 One Thousand Guineas queen, Ameerat (GB)
(Mark of Esteem [Ire]); multiple Grade/Group 1 globetrotter Collier Hill (GB)
(Dr Devious); and last year’s Metropolitan H. (G1) victor Bribon (Fr) (Mark of
Esteem [Ire]), who finished third in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. (G1) two back.