Regardless of trip, traffic or weight, repatriation will get the job done.
The outstanding British-bred mare notched her third consecutive win and fifth career score with a late victory in the $200,500 Yellow Ribbon Handicap (G2T) on August 10. With the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) in her sights, the new queen of the Southern California turf will prove to be a formidable opponent to European and East Coast invaders in this fall’s World Championships at Del Mar.
Following a brilliant win in the Gamely Stakes (G1T) last time out, where she was making her first start in five months, Anisette is all set for Saturday’s 1 1/16-mile turf trial for fillies and mares aged 3 and up. Bookmakers have expressed their confidence in Anisette as she lines up under regular rider Umberto Rispoli, making her a strong contender at $0.30-1 out of six horses.
Not rushed from the start, as is usual for a back-running mare, Anisette strolled into second from last on the final straight as a slow-moving horse. Always smart broke through in lively opening stints of :22.98 and :46.13 to an uncontested lead. The pack swarmed the leader into the far turn, with Anisette waiting behind Rispoli after six furlongs in 1:10.71 on a firm grass track.
Not rushing at the top of the lane, Rispoli waited just behind the horses instead of guiding Anisette out. The move proved key, as a seam opened up inside the eighth post and paved the way for Anisette’s powerful finishing kick. Anisette passed a Open the bottle with a total score of 1 1/4 lengths in a final time of 1:40.94. She returned $2.60 to her supporters in exchange for a $2 winning ticket.
“(I) knew I was on the best mare; that made the difference,” Rispoli said. “But today I won easier than it looked. That horse was the best horse.”
Trainer Leonard Powell praised Rispoli’s clever handling on Anisette’s back.
“They got to the second half in :23 and they weren’t back, but I felt like she was in a good spot,” Powell said. “When they turned, Umberto had to choose outside or inside, and remember, she had to give six, eight, 10 pounds to the field so weight was important, but once she got balanced, she really took off and at the sixteenth post, I knew she was going to get there.”
Awtaad has now reached 6 out of 8 since coming to the United States at age 3. She carried 126 pounds in Yellow Ribbon, six pounds more than Uncorked and eight pounds more than Kentucky shipper Ovejuna Stream who won the runner-up title. Lucky girl , Bellabel and Ever Smart completed the finishing order.
Video: Yellow Ribbon H. (G2T)
