Avenge on favorite turf course in Yellow Ribbon

DEL MAR, Calif. – Avenge adores the Del Mar turf course, which could work spectacularly in her favor this year.

Avenge won the Grade 2 John C. Mabee Stakes on turf at Del Mar last September and will be favored to win Saturday’s Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Handicap for fillies and mares on turf at 1 1/16 miles. In the coming months, races such as the Mabee Stakes on Sept. 2 and the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf on Nov. 4 are likely to figure in her plans. Avenge was third in the BC Filly and Mare Turf at Santa Anita last November.

“I was pretty happy with her last year,” trainer Richard Mandella said Thursday. “I’m not complaining, but I’d like to take it up another notch.”

The $200,000 Yellow Ribbon will be the second start of the year for Avenge, who was third to Lady Eli in the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes at Santa Anita on May 27.

Avenge won the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive Stakes at Santa Anita last October and is the only runner in the Yellow Ribbon with a win at that level in the United States. She drew the outside post in a field of eight for Saturday.

Kiss Me Now was a Group 1 winner in Brazil last year, while Pretty Girl was a Group 1 winner in Argentina in 2014. They will be longshots in a field that includes Hillhouse High, the winner of the Grade 2 Royal Heroine Stakes at Santa Anita in April, and Cambodia, who won the Grade 3 Gallorette Stakes at Pimlico in May.

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Key Contenders

Avenge, by War Front
Last 3 Beyers: 97-103-99

◗ Owned by Ramona Bass, Avenge is unbeaten in two starts on turf at Del Mar, including an optional claimer at a mile in 2016. In the Gamely at 1 1/8 miles on turf, Avenge set the pace to early stretch and was beaten 3 3/4 lengths by Lady Eli, who returned to win the Grade 1 Diana Stakes at Saratoga on July 22.

“It was a big deal,” Mandella said of the comeback. “It was a good race.”

◗ Avenge is quick and could lead, depending on whether Juno takes her customary position at the front.

“She may be laying off [Juno] or could be on the lead,” Mandella said.

Cambodia, by War Front
Last 3 Beyers: 95-95-87

◗ The Yellow Ribbon is the most prestigious race of Cambodia’s career. Trained by Tom Proctor for Winter Quarter Farms, Cambodia followed her win in the Gallorette at 1 1/16 miles with a third in the Grade 3 James Penny Memorial Stakes at Parx Racing on July 4. Cambodia led to the final furlong before finishing 2 1/2 lengths behind Fourstar Crook in the Penny Stakes.

◗ Since arriving in California last month, Cambodia has worked quickly on turf under jockey Drayden Van Dyke.

“She’s a very good filly,” Van Dyke said. “As Proctor said, ‘She’s all racehorse.’ ”

◗ Cambodia tends to race on or near the lead, which Van Dyke said makes the 5-year-old mare adaptable.

“You can get her to relax, and that’s the main thing,” he said.