The Yellow Ribbon Handicap (formerly known as the Palomar Handicap) is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, California. The Grade II race is run on turf at a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles (8.5 furlongs) and is open to fillies and mares, age three and up.
The Palomar Handicap was first run in 1945 as a six furlong race on dirt for three-year-olds. It was not run again until 1952 when it was made an event for three-year-old fillies. After being put on hiatus again, it became an annual event in 1955. Since 1970, it has been contested on turf. From its inception, the race has been contested at various distances: 6 furlongs : 1945–1969 7.5 furlongs : 1970–1976 8 furlongs (1 mile) – 1977–1987 8.5 furlongs ( miles) : 1988–present
It was raced in two divisions in 1970, 1971, 1973, 1982, and 1991.
This race is now called the Yellow Ribbon Handicap. (The original Yellow Ribbon Stakes run during the Oak Tree Racing Association Meeting is now called the Rodeo Drive Stakes.)
Records Speed record: (at current distance of 8.5 furlongs) 1:39.67 – Mea Domina (2006)
Most wins: 2 – Tranquility Lake (2000, 2001) 2 – Gotta Have Her (2009, 2010) 2 – She's Not Here (2015, 2016) 2 – Cambodia (2017,2018)
Most wins by an owner: 3 – Juddmonte Farms (1992, 2004, 2005)
Most wins by a jockey: 5 – Bill Shoemaker (1952, 1971, 1973, 1979, 1982)
Most wins by a trainer: 8 – Robert J. Frankel (1986, 1988, 1991, 1994, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007) 7 – Charles Wittingham (1973, 1974, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1989)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Time2026Warming4Juan J. HernandezH. Graham MotionEclipse Thoroughbred Partners1:42.352025Heredia (GB)6Juan HernandezH. Graham MotionWathnan Racing1:42.922024Anisette (GB)4Umberto RispoliLeonard PowellEclipse Thoroughbred Partners1:40.942023Closing Remarks5Umberto RispoliCarla GainesHarris Farms1:42.012022Going Global4Umberto RispoliPhilip D'AmatoCYBT, Saul Gevertz et al.1:41.182021Princess Grace4Kent DesormeauxMichael StidhamJohn and Susan Moore1:40.842020Bodhicitta4Flavien PratRichard BaltasCalvin Nguyen1:42.832019Beau Recall5Drayden Van DykeBrad H. CoxSlam Dunk Racing & Medallion Racing1:41.232018Cambodia6Drayden Van DykeThomas F. ProctorWinter Quarter Farm1:40.512017Cambodia5Drayden Van DykeThomas F. ProctorWinter Quarter Farm1:40.862016She's Not Here5 Drayden Van DykeVictoria H. OliverHumphrey/St. George Farm1:42.702015She's Not Here4Mike E. SmithVictoria H. OliverHumphrey/St. George Farm1:41.862014Miss Serendipity6Brice BlancRon McAnallyAnselmo Cavalieri1:40.982013Egg Drop4Martin GarciaMike R. MitchellLittle Red Feather Racing1:40.502012Halo Dolly4Joe TalamoJerry HollendorferHoefflin/Hollendorfer/Todaro/et al.1:40.522011City to City4Garrett GomezJerry HollendorferHollendorfer/DeBurgh/Dedominico1:41.582010Gotta Have Her6Mike E. SmithJenine SahadiGreen Lantern Stable1:42.392009Gotta Have Her5Tyler BazeJenine SahadiGreen Lantern Stables1:40.672008Vacare5Corey NakataniChristophe ClementJon & Sarah Kelly1:40.642007Precious Kitten4Julien LeparouxRobert J. Frankel Ken & Sarah Ramsey1:40.422006Mea Domina5Tyler BazeRon McAnallyJanis R. Whitham1:39.672005Intercontinental5Jerry D. Bailey Robert J. Frankel Juddmonte Farms1:39.842004Etoile Montante4Jose Valdivia Jr.Robert J. Frankel Juddmonte Farms1:40.592003Spring Star4Alex SolisRichard E. MandellaWertheimer Farm1:40.782002Voodoo Dancer4Kent DesormeauxChristophe ClementGreen Hills Farm1:41.562001Tranquility Lake6Eddie DelahoussayeJulio C. CananiPam & Martin Wygod1:41.942000Tranquility Lake5Eddie DelahoussayeJulio C. CananiPam & Martin Wygod1:41.011999Happyanunoit4Brice BlancRobert J. Frankel Amerman Racing Stables1:41.201998Tuzla4Corey NakataniJulio C. CananiDavid Milch1:42.201997Blushing Heiress5Chris McCarronDan L. HendricksM.F. & T.M. Cavanagh1:43.201996Yearly Tour5Chris McCarronDavid HofmansGolden Eagle Farm1:42.401995Morgana4Gary StevensGary F. Jones Robert E. Sangster1:42.401994Shir Dar4Corey NakataniRobert J. Frankel Edmund A. Gann1:42.801993Heart of Joy6David FloresGary F. Jones Golden Eagle Farm1:42.001992Super Staff4Chris McCarronRon McAnallyJuddmonte Farms1:42.201991Guiza4Gary Stevens Robert J. Frankel Blue Vista Inc.1:42.001991Somethingmerry4Laffit Pincay Jr.Donald WarrenE. W. "Bud" Johnston family1:41.801990Jabalina Brown5Julio A. GarciaRon McAnallyHaras Rosa Del Sur1:42.601989Claire Marine4Robbie Davis Charles Wittingham S. L. Port & C. E. Whittingham 1:43.201988Chapel of Dreams4Eddie DelahoussayeRobert J. Frankel Ted M. Sabarese1:42.601987Festivity4Alex SolisLaz BarreraHarbor View Farm1:35.801986Aberuschka4Pat ValenzuelaRobert J. Frankel Ann & Jerry Moss1:34.401985Capichi5Russell BazeGary F. Jones 3 Plus U Stable1:35.201984Moment to Buy †3Tommy ChapmanOlen BattlesPaul Painter1:35.201983Triple Tipple4Chris McCarronRichard L. CrossFittocks Stud1:35.601982Northern Fable4Sandy HawleyCharles WittinghamMike G. Rutherford1:35.201982Star Pastures4Bill ShoemakerJohn GosdenRobert E. Sangster1:35.401981Kilijaro5Marco CastanedaCharles Wittingham Serge Fradkoff & E. A. Seltzer1:35.401980A Thousand Stars5Eddie DelahoussayeCharles Wittingham Alan Clore1:34.801979More So4Bill Shoemaker Charles Wittingham Nelson Bunker Hunt1:35.401978Drama Critic4Donald Pierce Ron McAnallyElmendorf1:36.401977Dancing Femme4Donald PierceTommy DoyleJack L. Finley1:35.601976Just a Kick4Laffit Pincay Jr.Roger E. ClappConnie M. Ring1:29.401975Modus Vivendi4Fernando ToroGordon C. Campbell Bernard J. Ridder1:28.801974Sphere4Steve ValdezCharles Wittingham Claiborne Farm (Lessee)1:28.401973Meilleur3Donald PierceJohn H. AdamsEl Peco Ranch1:28.801973Belle Marie3Bill Shoemaker Charles Wittingham Kinship Stable1:28.801972Minstrel Miss5Donald PierceGordon C. Campbell Jack M. Grossman1:28.401971Street Dancer4Bill Shoemaker John G. Canty William T. Brady1:29.201971Opening Bid4Jerry LambertLou GlauburgM/M John J. Elmore1:29.801970Lynne's Orphan4Dennis TierneyLinwood J. BrooksLester Eaton & Winston W. Kratz1:29.601970La Sevillana4Álvaro PinedaWarren StuteBent Tree Ranch1:29.201969Time to Leave4Danny VelasquezJohn G. CantyNeil S. McCarthy1:08.201968Pacific Cross4Johnny SellersClyde ConwayM/M John J. Elmore1:09.001967Admirably5Jerry LambertLou GlauburgE. J. Anderson1:08.601966Fleet Treat3Fernando AlvarezJimmy WallaceM/M E. W. "Bud" Johnston 1:08.801965Jam N Jellie5Bill Hartack A. J. Gorsky Charles Galea1:08.801964Soldier Girl3Johnny LongdenCharles A. ComiskeyM/M John Tusquellas1:09.401963Sabina Louise3Jerry LambertFarrell W. JonesAlbert Sultan1:12.201962Sunday Slippers3Jackie LeonardWilliam W. MorrisM/M Horace B. Taylor1:09.201961Nascania4Emile OhayonJoseph S. DunnHoward B. Keck1:09.001960Perizade4Rudy Campas Noble ThreewittM/M T. M. Brown1:09.201959Sweet June3Raymond YorkTommy DoyleM/M E. B. Johnston1:09.201958Camloc3Pete Moreno R. D. Moon Colin Campbell1:09.801957Myrtle4Ismael Valenzuela Keith L. StuckiTriple K. Stable1:09.401956In Reserve4Johnny LongdenVance LongdenAlberta Ranches, Ltd.1:09.401955Robinar3 Johnny LongdenJohn CraigmyleAlberta Ranches, Ltd.1:09.001953–1954 no race 1952Sincerely3 Bill Shoemaker Reggie CornellBiff 's Stable1:10.801946–1951 no race 1945Double F. F.3Melvin Peterson Jack AvantHarry N. Isenberg1:11.00
† In 1984, Royal Heroine finished first but was disqualified and set back to third.
References
The 2009 Palomar Handicap at the NTRA