Riboletta on Comeback Trail; Sister Readies for Debut

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Aaron and Marie Jones' Riboletta, last year's champion older female, is on the comeback trail, with the Oct. 27 Breeders' Cup Distaff the ultimate goal for the Eduardo Inda-trained mare. In her first workout since returning to the track, Riboletta breezed three furlongs in :37.4 at Santa Anita.

Retired after her championship season, the 6-year-old daughter of Roi Normand was among the many mares in central Kentucky who aborted after being bred early in the breeding season. (Researchers at the University of Kentucky have pinpointed toxins given off by caterpillars as the likely cause of the outbreak of abortions and foal losses). Riboletta had been bred to Forestry, a son of Storm Cat who was raced by the Joneses. Inda said Riboletta could start near the end of the Del Mar meet. An earner of more t han $1.3 million, Riboletta has won seven of 11 starts.

Meanwhile, the 3-year-old full sister to Riboletta is nearing her career debut for the Joneses and Inda. Tamara Princess, who like her full sister was bred in Brazil, was expected to make her first start at Hollywood Park on Saturday, but the maiden race did not fill.

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