How to bet the 2021 Yellow Ribbon Stakes

An excellent field of 10 fillies and mares will go 1 1/16 miles on the Del Mar lawn in Saturday’s $200,000 Yellow Ribbon H. (G2). Eight of the 10 contestants have achieved prior success at the graded or group level, and a case can be made for any horse in the especially well-matched field.

Yellow Ribbon Contenders

#1 BODHICITTA -- Defending champ draws the rail for Baltas. Showcasing mare kicked off 2021 with a close third in the Gamely S. (G1), and she will likely move forward in her second run of the season. McCarthy will guide the chestnut.

#2 RAYMUNDOS SECRET -- Treasure Beach five-year-old is 3-for-4 at Del Mar with a Grade 2 victory on the course. Speedy lass didn’t fire her best shot in her seasonal bow, but the mare is more than capable on her best day. Pereira has the assignment.

#3 CHARMAINE’S MIA -- Second from the d’Amato shedrow has a three-race graded winning streak snapped when tiring late in the recent Gamely S. (G1). Daughter of The Factor has never run at Del Mar, but can’t be ignored as a logical contender beneath Bravo.

#4 DOGTAG -- Mandela pupil is a dual stakes vixen searching for her first graded conquest. War Front mare has been in good form with a pair of runner-up decisions this campaign, and she looms an upset chance with expected improvement off the shelf under Rispoli.

#5 BROOKE -- South American import has given a good account of herself with a trio of placings in as many tries on U.S. ground. Chestnut mare showed an affinity for the oval when a recent second at Del Mar. Kyle Frey will pilot the five-year-old.

#6 KEEPER OFTHE STARS -- Gamely S. fourth is consistent on a whole, but she has never hit the board in four local runs, including a seventh-place result in the race in 2020. Grade 1 heroine is clearly a talent that fits at the level, but she has to prove that she can run her best on this sod before being backed with confidence.

#7 IPPODAMIA’S GIRL -- Baltas pupil won the local prep for this race and could be dangerous with another move in the right direction. Stormy Atlantic mare will be tracking the tempo from the second flight early on with Franco in the stirrups.

#8 PRINCESS GRACE -- Once-beaten Grade 2 victress was a sharp winner in her 2021 debut at Parx for Stidham. Karakonite four-year-old has done little wrong to this point of her career, and the homebred continues to fire bullet morning drills, as well. Tactical filly will have Kent Desormeaux in the silks on Saturday.

#9 MAXIM RATE -- Callaghan pupil broke through at the highest level when annexing the Gamely S. (G1) in her most recent try. The gray daughter of Exchange Rate is a two-time winner at Del Mar, and she could be the one while making her third run off the bench. Juan Hernandez retains the mount.

#10 LAURA’S LIGHT -- Constitution four-year-old is a Grade 2 winner on this green and moves back to the lawn following a pair of dirt performances. Peter Miller pupil has ample early speed to overcome the widest post and be in striking range turning for home. Jose Valdivia Jr. will be up.

Yellow Ribbon Wagers

• $3 exacta box: 1,4,8,9 ($36)
• $.50-cent trifecta box: 1,4,8,9 ($12)