She’s Not Here earns shot at Yellow Ribbon

DEL MAR, Calif. – She’s Not Here will start in the richest race of her career in the $200,000 Yellow Ribbon Stakes at Del Mar on Sept. 6 following a win in an optional claimer at a mile on turf Thursday.

Ridden by Mike Smith, She’s Not Here ($25.60) closed from last in a field of six to win by 1 3/4 lengths over 25-1 Beat of The Drum.

“I didn’t expect her to run as big,” trainer Vicki Oliver said.

Oliver said the result justifies a start in the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Stakes, which is run at 1 1/16 miles on turf for fillies and mares.

“If she ran one-two-three, we thought that would be the plan,” Oliver said.

Owned by Oliver’s father, G. Watts Humphrey, and Ian Banwell, She’s Not Here won for the second time in three starts on Thursday. A 4-year-old filly by Street Cry, She’s Not Here won an optional claimer at Churchill Downs on May 30. She was last of five in the Ellis Park Turf Stakes on July 4.

She’s Not Here has won 4 of 15 starts in her career. Thursday’s race was her first start in California.