Drysdale Is Pinning Hopes on Favored Fiji

Trainer Neil Drysdale has won a lot of important stakes races during his brilliant career, but one Grade I has eluded him.

The $500,000 Yellow Ribbon Stakes, one of the most prestigious events in the country for female turf runners, is missing from his resume, but that could change this afternoon.

Drysdale will send out Fiji, the 7-5 favorite on Jeff Tufts’ morning line, and she will try to win for the sixth time in seven starts this year.

Making her first start since finishing third as the 2-5 favorite in the Ramona Handicap on Aug. 1 at Del Mar, the 4-year-old Rainbow Quest filly has trained well for her return and is a big fan of the Santa Anita turf course.

A victory in the 1 1/4-mile Yellow Ribbon, which was won last year by eventual Eclipse Award winner Ryafan, would be her fifth in six starts on this layout.

Tenski, a 3-year-old daughter of Polish Numbers, will make her California debut for trainer Linda Rice and owner Richard Golden, and she arrives here sharp. She won for the fifth time in six starts on the grass when capturing the Queen Elizabeth II last month at Keeneland, and she will be ridden by regular rider Richard Migliore.

The field also includes Tresoriere, who was second in her last pair in New York and Canada; Winona, who will race with Lasix and blinkers for the first time; Real Connection, who was second in the 1996 Yellow Ribbon; Pomona; See You Soon, who won the aforementioned Ramona; Sonja’s Faith, who won the Las Palmas Handicap here Oct. 12; Squeak and Ellakapella.

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Musafi, who didn’t make the Breeders’ Cup Sprint field, won for the first time in three starts on turf Saturday, capturing the $100,000 Morvich Handicap at Santa Anita.

The 7-2 second choice in the field of eight, Musafi beat 5-1 shot Fabulous Guy by a nose with 13-10 favorite Expelled a head back in third. The final time for the race, about 6 1/2 furlongs on turf, was 1:14 2/5.

This was the third consecutive victory for the son of Dayjur, who is owned by Red Baron’s Barn, but it generally was believed he was a better horse on the main track.

“His work [59 3/5 on the course on Nov. 1] helped me to at least approach this race with a little more confidence,” trainer Darrell Vienna said. “Whether it helped him or not, I’m not certain.

“After I saw Reraise [win the Breeders’ Cup Sprint], I’m glad I’m here. I thought he didn’t look stoppable today. Either no one else ran or he was just magnificent today.”

Musafi, who was ridden by Garrett Gomez, has five victories in nine starts and the $60,000 payday pushed his career earnings to $241,087.

Horse Racing Notes

The total handle at Santa Anita was $20,213,259.80, the fourth highest all time at Santa Anita and the highest at Oak Tree since the track hosted the Breeders’ Cup in 1993. . . . Apprentice jockey Ariel Smith won twice Saturday, as did Victor Espinoza.