Jolie Olimpica to scratch from Yellow Ribbon
DEL MAR, Calif. – The scratch of presumptive favorite Jolie Olimpica from the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Handicap on Saturday at Del Mar clears the way for Beau Recall to win the turf route for a second straight year.
Jolie Olimpica, runner-up in the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley on July 11 at Keeneland, was not a certain starter in the Yellow Ribbon anyway, because trainer Richard Mandella suspected she might need more time after shipping back and forth to Kentucky. Wednesday morning, he said the decision was made for him.
“She actually grabbed a quarter, so it took the decision away from me,” Mandella said. “I’m going to scratch her. But I wasn’t in a hurry to run her anyway after shipping to Keeneland and all.”
Mandella said Jolie Olimpica, a multiple graded winner with five wins and two seconds from seven starts, will target the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile against males Aug. 23.
The scratch of Jolie Olimpica lowers the price for Beau Recall, who won the 2019 Yellow Ribbon by a nose and finished second last out in the Grade 1 Just a Game at Belmont Park.