DEL MAR, Calif.—Pick your phrase: She won for fun? She walked her beat? She just galloped?
Whatever you choose, the fact of the matter is that the Irish filly Going Global could not have looked more impressive in winning Saturday’s Yellow Ribbon Handicap at Del Mar, toting topweight of 125 pounds and spotting her rivals from five to seven pounds. She ran the mile and one-sixteenth on turf in 1:41.18 and reported home first by three lengths.
The 4-year-old is trained by Phil D’Amato and was ridden by Umberto Rispoli. That pair had teamed up earlier in the meet to win both the Oceanside and the San Clemente stakes, but in neither of those cases did they put on the “Wow” factor like Going Global did today.
“I thought Umberto had her perfectly placed from the get-go and it was just a matter of when he was going to press the button. When he did, she responded. All credit to Umberto and the filly and we’ll move on to the Mabee. (The Grade II John C. Mabee Stakes at Del Mar on September 10.) remarked D’Amato.
It was the bay filly’s ninth victory in her 15th start and the $150,000 winner’s share of the $251,000 purse pushed her earnings to $967,292. She is owned by the partnership of Dubb, Gevertz or Nentwig, Pagano and CYBT.
Finished second was Convergence Stable and Madaket Stables’ Avenue de France and third was Godolphin’s Javanica.
“When you ride one like her, you’re feeling very well. I was excited to ride her today. When we came out of the turn, she gave me another gear. Then it was all over. She did it; I didn’t do a thing,” expressed Rispoli.
It was Rispoli’s first Yellow Ribbon win giving him three stakes wins for the summer meet with a total of 15 stakes at Del Mar. It was the same for trainer D’Amato, first win in the Yellow Ribbon and three stakes for the meet however D’Amato has a total of 38 stakes wins at Del Mar. Rispoli and D’Amato combined for two of their three wins this meet with wins the Oceanside and San Clemente.
The winner, who was the 7-10 betting favorite, paid $3.40, $2.40 and $2.20 across the board. Avenue de France paid $4.00 and $3.40, while Javanica returned $6.20 to show.
Going Global was Del Mar’s champion 3-year-old filly of 2021 when she won the Grade I Del Mar Oaks. Trainer D’Amato indicated she was likely to next start at the shore oval in the Grade II, $250,000 John C. Mabee Stakes on Saturday, September 10, one day before the meet closes.
DMTC Press Release
Photo by Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire
