Yet to be tested in easy turf wins over 3-year-old rivals this season, Arindel Farm's Wait a While returns to California to tackle older fillies and mares in the $400,000 Yellow Ribbon (gr. IT) at Oak Tree's Santa Anita meeting Saturday.
The New York-based filly trained by Todd Pletcher is expected to the favorite in a field of nine entered for the 1 1/4-mile test. Wait a While will start on the outside with Garrett Gomez aboard as she bids to become the first 3-year-old filly to win the Yellow Ribbon since Ryafan in 1997.
Wait a While has coasted to victories in the American Oaks (gr. IT) and Lake Placid (gr. IIT) this summer to assume command of the 3-year-old division. She's the lone sophomore in the Yellow Ribbon field.
Her rivals are formidable, including Dancing Edie, the winner of the John Mabee Handicap (gr. IT) at Del Mar in July.
The French-bred Live Life, third in the Beverly D. (gr. IT) at Arlington last month, is a legitimate threat to steal the race on the front end. The Irish-bred Three Degrees is rounding into form after a strong second-place finish in Del Mar's Palomar Handicap (gr. IIT).
Other top contenders include Moscow Burning and Amorama.
$400,000 Yellow Ribbon Stakes (gr. I, Race 4, 2 p.m.), Fillies & Mares 3 & Up, 1 1/4 Miles (Turf)PP. Horse, Weight, Jockey
1. Three Degrees (IRE), 123, Alex O. Solis
2. Live Life (FR), 123, Patrick A. Valenzuela
3. Bond Deal (IRE), 123, Jose Valdivia, Jr.
4. Moscow Burning (CA), 123, Norberto Arroyo, Jr.
5. Sohgol (IRE), 123, G. F. Almeida
6. Singalong (GB), 123, David R. Flores
7. Amorama (FR), 123, Victor Espinoza
8. Dancing Edie (CA), 123, Corey S. Nakatani
9. Wait a While (KY), 120, Garrett K. Gomez
