Yellow Ribbon Handicap (Grade 2)- $200.000 Purse
DMR- For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Upward
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Turf
August 3, 2019

Time to cross another stake off the list of ones that Mb Stables has never won! Until this year’s race, his extensive graded stake trophy case was missing the one for the Yellow Ribbon Handicap. But we all know that he is too wise of a trainer for that to have continued, and it would by Too Much Wisdom getting the job done today. This was her turf debut, and that was part of the reason I held back on picking her to finish any better. Mario Gutierrez was aboard the winner, and also wins the race for the first time. Congratulations to them! The time of the win was 1:39.99, a middle of the road time in comparison to other years. Let’s take a look!

(1/4 Mile- :23.69)- While Sillian is the quickest out of the gate for her trainer, D J C Racing Stables, she would be passed just as we reached a quarter mile by Validation, who is out of Team 7 Illusions. That one is quick to open a length lead once she moved forward. Running third on the rail behind them is the eventual winner, Too Much Wisdom for Mb Stables. It’s another length to Twinny (Maxmillion Farm) and Smart Queen (Night Rider Stables), who run side by side. Upper Darby (Chili King Stables) looked to have missed the break, and was left behind right from the start, and was seven lengths out quite quickly.

(½ Mile- :47.02)- It’s still Validation after half a mile, and she runs with a length lead down the backstretch. Behind her, things were mostly unchanged until we got closer to the turn. At this point, Too Much Wisdom began making a strong push forward and did away with Sillian. She was now only a length behind the pacesetter as we prepared to run around the turn. Smart Queen was starting to look for room along the inside, and those who went with our pick, Twinny, were still waiting for that one to get going. Upper Darby lost another length to the field.

(Top Of The Stretch)- At the front, Validation is still doing a very good job of holding her ground. While Too Much Wisdom is gradually reeling her in, this would not be a lost cause effort as it allowed her to still be two lengths ahead of the third place Sweet Queen. Too Much Wisdom did indeed handle the turn quite well, and seemed to be in good shape here. Initially, it looked like Twinny might have something for them at the top of the turn but there was still a lot of ground to cover. Sillian was dropping out of it and Upper Darby was never in it.

(Finish- 1:39.99)- In the stretch, there was a little too much of Too Much Wisdom for the others in the field, and she comes away with a sharp looking length win. Validation could not hold her off, but her effort in the stretch is rewarded with her prevailing in a tight three way photo for place, edging out Smart Queen and Twinny. Sillian was another length back, and Upper Darby was outclassed.

About The Winner- Too Much Wisdom, trained by Mb Stables, and ridden to victory by Mario Gutierrez is a four year old filly by Im Too Confident, and is out of the late Wise Choice. She was bred in New York as a yearling by Mb Stables, the only trainer for which she has ever known. The win is her ninth in 20 starts, her fourth stake win, and third graded win. Her career earnings are now $813.480.

Track: Firm
Time: :23³  :47   1:10¹  1:39⁴

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 1 – 6 Paid 11.20
$1 Trifecta: 1 – 6 – 3 Paid 1,451.90

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES