Want to know if a filly or mare from the Graham Motion stable is live in a grass race at Del Mar?
Go ask Alice. I bet she'll know.
Once again, in the $201,000 Yellow Ribbon Stakes (G2T) Aug. 8, it was assistant trainer Alice Clapham setting the saddle on a well-traveled winner from Motion's Fair Hill training center HQ in rural Maryland. This time it was Warming, a daughter of Global Campaign who races for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, coming from last early to first by a neck as the 9-5 favorite over the pacesetting longshot Princesa Moche, with Take A Breath just another neck behind at the end of the 1 1/16 miles on firm ground.
Juan Hernandez, winning his second graded stakes of the day, made his move from the back of the pack with Warming going into the far turn, committed to a five-wide move, while maintaining unchecked momentum.
"Juan said she settled very well and was going along smoothly," Clapham said as she accompanied the chestnut filly to the test barn. "Then once she changed her lead, she really took off."
After commencing her career in the East, Warming had a brief California campaign last fall, winning the Autumn Miss Stakes (G3T) at a mile at Santa Anita Park. She has enjoyed a solid 2026 season, highlighted by a win in the Gallorette Stakes (G3T) during the Preakness Festival at Laurel Park.
Warming gave the Motion-Clapham team its second straight Yellow Ribbon prize after the victory of Heredia last year. The stable began winning significant Del Mar events more than a decade ago, with such runners as Rusty Slipper and Miss Temple City, and has continued with Spendarella, Sister Otoole, and Gimme a Nother, who scored in the 2025 John C. Mabee Stakes (G2T).
Clapham was in the air with Warming one week before the Yellow Ribbon, while Gimme a Nother was winning the Beverly D. Stakes (G2T) for Motion at Colonial Downs.
"Couldn't be helped," she said. "That was the only direct flight. And now she's scheduled to fly back this Tuesday. Whether she'll be back here again later in the meet remains to be seen, but she certainly likes it here."
Video: Yellow Ribbon S. (G2T)
Hughes Romps in Best Pal
Compared to the dramatic finish of the Yellow Ribbon, Hernandez could have snoozed his way to victory in the $150,000 Best Pal Stakes (G3).
With Hernandez aboard for the first time, at least in the afternoon, favored Hughes broke like a pro at the start of the 6-furlong event and was quickly challenged from the outside by Kennyten, second choice in the field of five. Longshot You Want Some also inserted himself into the early pace scenario, but by the time they'd gone a half-mile in :45.99, it was clear who was in command.
At the top of the stretch, Kennyten produced one last burst for Ricardo Gonzalez, then watched as Hughes and Hernandez raced away through a final furlong in :11.74 to win by 7 3/4 lengths and stop the clock in 1:09.61. Phone Booth and Umberto Rispoli got up by a head to edge Kennyten for second.
"In the mornings, this colt is really quiet, very professional," Hernandez said. "In his race, though, he's a different horse. Very aggressive. But I think that's good. He's still learning how to run, but he knows it's game time."
Hughes was making his second start for trainer Bob Baffert and the ownership conglomerate of Tom Ryan's Front Row Club, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Bashor Racing, Albaugh Family Stables, Robert "Bat" Masterson, Golconda Stable, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan. The son of Into Mischief was a $675,000 purchase at the 2025 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, and was bred in Kentucky by Breffni Farm.
"His name was inspired by the tenacity that Jack Hughes showed while leading America to Olympic gold in hockey earlier this year," Ryan said after Hughes won his debut June 21 at Los Alamitos Race Course. "I also have a personal connection to the name Hughes. My wife's father, Pat Hughes, won three Stanley Cups, and Into Mischief was the brainchild of B. Wayne Hughes."
Toss in Henny Hughes, the sire of Into Mischief's famous half sister, four-time champion Beholder.
Baffert, speaking from Saratoga, confirmed that Hughes now will be pointed for the Del Mar Futurity (G1) Sept. 6.
