A rested Her Emmynency ready for Yellow Ribbon
DEL MAR, Calif. – Her Emmynency has fought a variety of ailments to become a multiple stakes winner in the last two years for owners Ike and Dawn Thrash of Hattiesburg, Miss.
The filly suffered a severe bout with colic in 2014 and has had breathing issues at times. Last fall, she won her most prestigious race in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland.
The win defines her career to date, but Ike Thrash said he thinks Her Emmynency can accomplish more, beginning in Saturday’s $200,000 Yellow Ribbon Stakes at Del Mar. The Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon for fillies and mares is run at 1 1/16 miles on turf and will be the first start for Her Emmynency since a troubled fifth in the Grade 2 Royal Heroine Stakes at Santa Anita on May 5.
The late-spring rest benefited Her Emmynency, Thrash said.
“She had R and R for the first 30 days,” he said. “I think she’ll be healthier and happier. Hopefully, that will translate in her races.”
The Yellow Ribbon has drawn a strong field of nine, including Nancy From Nairobi, who won the Royal Heroine; She’s Not Here, who won the 2015 Yellow Ribbon; Finest City, who was third in the Grade 1 Vanity Mile on dirt last month; and the promising Majestic Heat, the winner of an optional claimer at Santa Anita on June 17.
The Yellow Ribbon is the first of 21 graded stakes at the summer meeting.
Yellow Ribbon, Race 9
KEY CONTENDERS
Her Emmynency, by Successful Appeal
Last 3 Beyers: 90-83-91
◗ A little luck would help Her Emmynency, who is trained by Kristin Mulhall. In the Grade 2 Santa Ana Stakes at Santa Anita on March 26, Her Emmynency ducked in severely at the start and lost a shoe. She finished fifth as the 4-5 favorite. In the Royal Heroine, another fifth-place finish, Her Emmynency was away slowly and had enough trouble in the stretch that the incident was the subject of an inquiry. The order of finish was not changed.
◗ Ike Thrash said Her Emmynency should be in peak condition for the summer and fall.
“I think she’s going to win every time,” he said. “She was treated for her throat. She’s always been really talented and had minor stuff bugging her.”
◗ Her Emmynency has won 4 of 10 starts and earned $560,250. She is best suited to racing just off the lead but may be effective from off the pace. Mulhall said she has focused on gate works with Her Emmynency in recent weeks.
“I popped her out of the gate with a horse on the inside, and she broke good, slightly in,” she said. “The main thing in the last two races were the gate.
“She showed a whole new dimension coming from way out of it like she did [last time]. If she can duplicate that last race, she can do whatever she wants. If she breaks good, she can be tough.”
Nancy From Nairobi, by Sixties Icon
Last 3 Beyers: 94-97-91
◗ Nancy From Nairobi was sixth in the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes on May 30, losing by 2 1/2 lengths to Illuminant, who is being held out of this race in favor of the Beverly D. Stakes at Arlington Park in August. The loss ended a three-race winning streak for Nancy From Nairobi that included two optional claimers before the Royal Heroine.
“She didn’t get a very good trip in her last race and has trained beautifully for this race,” trainer John Sadler said. “She got stuck on the inside. She couldn’t really get there.
“She’s going to run real well. Things have gone really smooth.”
Majestic Heat, by Unusual Heat
Last 3 Beyers: 92-88-82
◗ Majestic Heat returned from an eight-month layoff to win an optional claimer at a mile at Santa Anita on June 17. Trainer Richard Mandella said Majestic Heat can improve from that performance.
“I hope she runs as good as she did the first time,” he said. “She’s trained well.”
◗ Majestic Heat was fifth in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks last year, a race in which Her Emmynency was second.