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Bodhicitta Nips Tonahutu in Yellow Ribbon

The strong-finishing winner took advantage of a ground-saving trip from post 2.

Bodhicitta (outside) en route to victory in the Yellow Ribbon Handicap at Del Mar

Bodhicitta (outside) en route to victory in the Yellow Ribbon Handicap at Del Mar

Benoit Photo

Bodhicitta exited the 2019 summer meet at Del Mar as a maiden, still winless in seven starts, but this year she is assured of leaving the seaside track as a graded stakes winner. 

The much-improved 4-year-old continued her dramatic ascent up the female turf ranks Aug. 8 at Del Mar, winning the $151,000 Yellow Ribbon Handicap (G2T) by a nose over former $32,000 claimer Tonahutu.

A favorable draw and a perfect trip delivered by jockey Flavien Prat also contributed to the victory. From post 2, he was able to carve out a ground-saving pocket journey around both turns before angling out in the stretch.

Even with that assist, it was Bodhicitta who delivered late, uncorking an explosive turn of foot to nip Tonahutu, who had seemed home free when surging ahead in midstretch. Carrying 120 pounds, three less than the highweights, she raced 1 1/16 miles on a firm turf course in a race hand-timed in 1:42.83.

Turf races will be hand-timed this weekend at Del Mar before track officials resurvey the course this upcoming week to verify accuracy and align fractional times when the inner rail is positioned at different settings, Daily Racing Form reported.

The tally was the eighth stakes score of the meet for Prat.

"I knew they were going slow, but my filly has a good turn of foot and we got it done,” he said.

The winner, a daughter of Showcasing owned by Calvin Nguyen and trained by Richard Baltas, paid $11.20 as the second betting choice after morning-line favorite Jolie Olimpica was an early scratch.

Harmless, a 30-1 outsider who set the pace with splits of :24.52, :49.97, and 1:14.58, held third, outlasting a rallying Lady Prancealot in fourth.

Those who raced in the rear half of the field, including 6-5 favorite and defending race winner Beau Recall, were unable to mount significant challenges in the slow-paced race. Beau Recall settled for fifth after being hung wide in last for much of the first three-quarters of the race.

"The race went about like I thought it would; I didn’t see much speed in the race," Baltas said. "(Bodhicitta) has more tactical speed than some of the horses, like Beau Recall and others who come from the back."

Baltas said he grew encouraged earlier in the year when Prat and agent Derek Lawson called Bodhicitta their "next Vasilika," a comparison to the multiple grade 1 winner. The trainer mentioned the John C. Mabee Stakes (G2T) Sept. 5 at Del Mar as perhaps the next race for his filly.

Bodhicitta, bred in Great Britain by Fonthill Farms and Mr. & Mrs. A. Scott, is the first stakes winner from four foals to race from her dam, the Teofilo mare Solfilia. Bodhicitta was purchased by Meah/Lloyd Bloodstock for Nguyen from consignor M.D. O'Callaghan Racing at the 2019 Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up and Horses in Training Sale for 60,000 guineas (US$82,108).

She won her first race at Santa Anita Park in October before notching two more victories there in February and March in allowance optional claiming races. She picked up a graded placing by rallying for second in the Gamely Stakes (G1T) behind Keeper Ofthe Stars, one of the six fillies and mares she defeated Saturday.

Video: Yellow Ribbon H. (G2T)