Going Global looks sharp in winning Yellow Ribbon

DEL MAR, Calif. - Going Global has won more stakes than she has lost in the last 18 months she has raced in California. Few of her preceding stakes wins were as sharp as her performance in Saturday’s Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Handicap at Del Mar.

Going Global ($3.40) stalked the pace to the turn and rallied wide under jockey Umberto Rispoli to win by three lengths, her second stakes win in three starts this year. Going Global has won 8 of 11 starts in California, all in stakes, including 6 of 8 starts last year.

In the $251,000 Yellow Ribbon Handicap for fillies and mares, Rispoli had a favorable trip on Going Global, tracking Javanica, Park Avenue and Burgoo Alley through a half-mile in 48.16 seconds before advancing on the leaders.

“I thought Umberto had her perfectly placed from the get-go,” trainer Phil D’Amato said. “When he asked her, she responded.”

Going Global finished 1 1/16 miles on turf in 1:41.18 and was given a 94 Beyer Speed Figure. Avenue de France, a 6-1 chance who won the restricted Osunitas Stakes on July 23 for her fourth stakes win in the last 53 weeks, closed from sixth on the turn to finish second, two lengths clear of 34-1 Javanica.

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Burgoo Alley finished fourth, followed by Rocking Redhead, Flippant and Park Avenue.

Going Global was the 125-pound topweight in the Yellow Ribbon, carrying five to seven pounds more than her rivals. A 4-year-old Irish-bred filly by Mehmas, Going Global has won 9 of 15 overall starts and earned $967,292. She had a single win among four starts in Ireland in 2020.

Going Global races for the partnership of Michael Dubb, Michael Nentwig, Saul Gevertz, Ray Pagano, and John Rochfort.

The Yellow Ribbon Handicap was Going Global’s seventh graded stakes win. Her only loss this year was a third in the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Santa Anita on May 30 when she raced between rivals for part of the race.

“That was a Grade 1 race and she was in tight most of the way,” D’Amato said. “She had a small window to get clear. She likes to get in the clear.”

The strategy worked on Saturday when Rispoli made a wide move on the turn that turned out to be a winning move.

“When we came out of the turn, she gave me another gear,” Rispoli said. “Then it was all over.”