Yellow Ribbon

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Nine female turf distaffers will go 10 furlongs in Saturday’s $250,000
Yellow Ribbon S. (G1) at Hollywood Park. Group 1 heroine HIBAAYEB (GB)
(Singspiel [Ire]) has faced the best in Europe this season, and while the
sophomore hasn’t made a big impression at the Group 1 level this year, we think
she’ll find this class drop to her liking and will side with her in here. The
Saeed bin Suroor trainee was an accomplished miler as a juvenile but has raced
at longer trips this campaign, and we only have to look at her third-place
finish in the Prix Saint Alary (Fr-G1) in May to know she belongs at the top
level in the United States. Rafael Bejarano will pilot our top selection.

LILLY FA POOTZ (Gilded Time) was a game second in the John C. Mabee S. (G2)
two back before checking in third in the recent Palomar H. (G2) for conditioner
Jerry Hollendorfer. The consistent five-year-old has never been off the board in
10 lifetime turf races and has had success on this lawn, so we consider the mare
a must-use in the gimmicks.

Beverly Hills H. (G3) winner TURNING TOP (Ire) (Pivotal) is perfect from
three starts at Hollywood Park, which includes a win at this race’s distance for
trainer Simon Callaghan. The expensive bay filly has been freshened for this
test and has very good tactical speed, so we expect to see her in the thick of
it from the opening bell.

Multiple Group 1 vixen GYPSY’S WARNING (SAf) (Mogok) has run a trio of good
races since arriving in the United States and has to be considered a major
player in here for stout turf conditioner Graham Motion. The bay mare ranks
first
in BRIS Prime Power (161.2) and has faced fields that have been equal to or better
than what she will see in this one. We’re not often sold on shippers into the
Golden State, but we like this one enough to use her in everything.

GO FORTH NORTH (North Light [Ire]), a neck second in the Palomar in
her latest venture, has shown fine improvement this season but still looks to be
a cut below the top runners in this one. Grade 1-placed stakes winner PRINCESS TAYLOR (GB) (Singspiel [Ire]) has very
good tactical speed and rates a gimmicks chance in here at decent odds for
trainer Paddy Gallagher. The chestnut mare has put in a trio of solid efforts in
succession and can’t be ignored beneath Victor Espinoza.

Canadian Grade 2 queen PRINCESS HAYA (Street Cry [Ire]) has not hit the board in four
2010 outings, and we’ll pas on her. SWEET AND FLAWLESS (Unbridled’s Song) is
still eligible for a first-level allowance affair. Stakes heroine RESTLESS SOUL
(GB) (Singspiel [Ire]) has just two wins from 22 tries on the turf and can’t be
backed in this affair.