Yellow Ribbon horse race

Photo: Benoit Photo

Heat Du Jour won the Solana Beach Handicap on Aug. 17.

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, whose recent hot streak has lifted him to the top of the standings heading into the final weekend of the summer meet, sends out a strong pair in and in the $200, 000 Yellow Ribbon Handicap (gr. IIT).

Nine well-matched older fillies and mares, including a quartet from the recent John C. Mabee Stakes (gr. IIT), have been entered in the 1 1/16-mile grass event. The Yellow Ribbon is race 9 on the Labor Day Monday card with a tentative post time of 6 p.m. PDT.

Claimed three times since February, Heat Du Jour broke through with her first stakes win in the restricted Solana Beach Handicap Aug. 17, an eye-catching three-length triumph from well off the pace. The California-bred 4-year-old Unusual Heat filly was claimed by Hollendorfer at May 23 for $32, 000 and now races for the Hall of Fame trainer and partners Jerry Schlaich and George Todaro.

Kent Desormeaux rode Heat Du Jour in the Solana Beach, but he will instead ride in the Yellow Ribbon for his brother, trainer Keith Desormeaux. Hollendorfer tabs Hall of Fame rider Alex Solis for Heat Du Jour.

Hollendorfer, who headed into the twilight card at Del Mar Aug. 29 with a 16-14 lead over Peter Miller in the Del Mar training standings, also sends out Parranda. The 5-year-old daughter of returns to her preferred grass surface after posting a late-running third in the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (gr. I) on the Polytrack Aug. 2.

Parranda previously won the Royal Heroine (gr. IIT) and Wilshire Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Santa Anita for Hollendorfer after being purchased privately and transferred from Florida. Elvis Trujillo retains the mount.

Four Yellow Ribbon entrants exit the Aug. 10 Mabee including runner-up, Cozze Up Lady (third), (fourth), and (sixth), who had an excuse when beaten as the favorite.

Glen Hill Farm homebred Wishing Gate nearly wired the 1 1/8-mile Mabee but was caught late and finished half a length behind the upset winner . The Indian Charlie filly makes her third start following a five-month layoff for trainer Tom Proctor and will be ridden back by Drayden Van Dyke.

Winner of last year's San Clemente Handicap (gr. IIT), Wishing Gate has two wins and two seconds in five starts over the Del Mar grass, including a second in last year's Del Mar Oaks (gr. IT).

Cozze Up Lady, who will race without blinkers in the Yellow Ribbon, was beaten by just one length in the Mabee in a willing effort with Desormeaux aboard. The 5-year-old Cozzene mare returns to the 1 1/16-mile distance at which she won the Osunitas Stakes two starts back over the course.