John Mabee Stakes boils down to D'Amato stablemates Going Global and Going to Vegas

It’s difficult to see Saturday’s Grade 2 John Mabee Stakes at Del Mar as anything other than an intramural tussle between Going Global and Going to Vegas.

Both trained by Phil D’Amato, the 4-year-old Going Global and 5-year-old Going to Vegas figure to dominate the betting for the $250,000 Mabee Stakes, for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

“Those are two Grade 1-winning fillies who are consistently at the top of their game in the last couple of races,” D’Amato said. “It will be a good matchup.”

Going Global won the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on Aug. 13 for her eighth United States stakes win since her arrival from Ireland in the winter of 2020-2021. The mount of Umberto Rispoli, Going Global is effective as a stalker or from slightly farther off the pace. In 2021, Going Global won the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

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Going to Vegas has not raced since she finished a game second to the now-retired Ocean Drive in the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf May 30 at Santa Anita. Going to Vegas, second in all three of her races this year, won the Mabee Stakes last September and followed with a victory in the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Santa Anita in October.

Going to Vegas, the mount of Flavien Prat, can lead, but is more likely to race from a tracking position behind Park Avenue, a stakes winner in Texas in May who was last of seven in the Yellow Ribbon Handicap.

D’Amato said he’s not concerned with Going to Vegas’s fitness off the summer-long layoff.

“Going to Vegas has been impressive in her drills,” D’Amato said.

If Park Avenue sets the pace, Going Global and Going to Vegas will be within range. The Mabee, the ninth race on an 11-race program, drew a field of seven.

Aside from Park Avenue, the role of disruptor to Going Global and Going to Vegas could come from Burgoo Alley, another runner trained by D’Amato, or Avenue de France, who was second in the Yellow Ribbon.

Trained by Leonard Powell, Avenue de France won the restricted Osunitas Stakes at a mile on turf on July 23 for her fourth stakes win. Avenue de France needs a pace to follow, Powell said.

“The main thing is she’s a closer,” Powell said. “They need to go fast enough. Going to Vegas is a major contender. I think Avenue de France has every right to be in the race.”

Burgoo Alley, who won the Grade 3 Autumn Miss Stakes at a mile on turf last October, finished fourth by five lengths in the Yellow Ribbon, her first start since January.

“Burgoo Alley is going to be tighter,” D’Amato said. “I’ve seen improvement from her. Maybe she can close the gap.”