Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Vasilika has formidable streak
DEL MAR, Calif. – The last time Vasilika raced at Del Mar she finished fourth in the Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes last November, a two-length loss that ended an eight-race winning streak.
When Vasilika starts as the favorite in Saturday’s Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Handicap at Del Mar, she will do so on the strength of a four-race winning streak in graded stakes since January. None of Vasilika’s rivals have been within a length of her at the finish this year, unable to prevent her from storming to the front in the final quarter-mile of twoturn turf races.
There is widespread expectation Vasilika can continue her success. The $200,000 Yellow Ribbon Handicap, run at 1 1/16 miles, will be her first start since a one-length victory in the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on May 27 at Santa Anita. A gap of nearly 10 weeks between races is her longest time between starts since she was claimed by trainer Jerry Hollendorfer for $40,000 in February 2018.
“You wonder how you’ll do with a little time off, but we think she’ll be fine,” Hollendorfer said.
The Yellow Ribbon Handicap drew a field of nine, all stakes winners. The 5-year-old Vasilika is the 125-pound topweight, with the others holding assignments ranging from 117 to 121 pounds.
KEY CONTENDERS
Vasilika, by Skipshot Last 3 Beyers: 91-95-94
◗ Owned by Mark Schlaich, Hollendorfer, Gatto Racing, and George Todaro, Vasilika has won 12 of 14 starts, including six graded stakes, since she was claimed. The wins range in distances from a mile to 1 1/4 miles.
◗ Flavien Prat has been aboard for all the wins, but is riding at Saratoga on Saturday. Julien Leparoux will ride Vasilika for the first time in the Yellow Ribbon. In all likelihood, Leparoux will follow Prat’s style of keeping Vasilika in a stalking position before starting a rally in the final three furlongs. Leparoux has won 14 races from 53 mounts for Hollendorfer.
◗ Vasilika had a steady pattern of workouts in late June and through July, including a six-furlong drill in 1:14.20 on turf last Sunday at Del Mar that left Hollendorfer impressed.
“She’s very happy right now,” Hollendorfer said. “She had a couple of works on the turf course and that helps. The last was especially good.”
◗ Vasilika is Hollendorfer’s first starter of the meeting, which began July 17. The Hall of Fame trainer received a temporary injunction from a San Diego court on July 26 allowing him to race at Del Mar. The track had initially denied him the opportunity to race at the summer meeting.
Hollendorfer was informed by Del Mar officials in early July that he would not be allowed to race at the summer meeting. The track’s decision occurred weeks after Santa Anita told Hollendorfer to vacate his stalls after a fourth horse in his care suffered a fatal injury in training or racing since late December.
The recent court ruling ordered Del Mar and Hollendorfer to take the case to arbitration and allowed Hollendorfer to operate at the track in the interim.
Beau Recall, by Sir Prancealot Last 3 Beyers: 98-102-92
◗ Beau Recall was a Grade 2 stakes winner for trainer Simon Callaghan when based in California last year. Since being moved to trainer Brad Cox last fall, Beau Recall has won three stakes at Fair Grounds and Churchill Downs.
Cox, whose stable has soared in prominence in recent years with success in the Midwest and New York, is seeking his first career win at Del Mar in the Yellow Ribbon.
“We thought the distance and the timing would set up well,” Cox said.
◗ Owned by Slam Dunk Racing and Medallion Racing, the 5-year-old Beau Recall won the Grade 2 Distaff Turf Mile on May 4 at Churchill Downs and was a fast-closing second in the Grade 1 Just a Game Stakes on June 8 at Belmont Park.
“Her race at Churchill Downs was a game effort,” Cox said. “She beat some nice fillies that day.”
Cox described Beau Recall’s loss in the Just a Game Stakes to the multiple stakes winner Rushing Fall as a “big race.”
◗ For Beau Recall, the key to success Saturday is for a runner such as the multiple stakes winner Valedictorian to set a solid tempo.
“She’s needs the pace,” Cox said.
Storm the Hill, by Get Stormy Last 3 Beyers: 92-98-89
◗ The Yellow Ribbon will be the second start of the year for Storm the Hill, a three-time stakes winner trained by Phil D’Amato. Storm the Hill was third as the 5-2 favorite in the Grade 3 Wilshire Stakes at a mile on turf June 22 at Santa Anita. Runner-up Ollie’s Candy won the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch Stakes here last Sunday.