After Brazilian Group 1 winner Riboletta was imported to the United States, it took some time for her to acclimate to Northern Hemisphere conditions and for her connections to figure out what she really wanted to do. Patience paid off, as the mare had an excellent 2000 campaign and became a champion in the United States. Unfortunately, her broodmare career was far less impressive than her ability as a runner.
Race record
28 starts, 13 wins, 3 seconds, 3 thirds, US$1,555,103 (includes converted Brazilian earnings)
1998:
1999:
2000:
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion older female (2000)
Assessments
Rated at 110 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older females of 1999, 15 pounds below champion Beautiful Pleasure.
Rated at 125 pounds in the Miler category on the 2000 International Classification for runners aged 4 and up, 9 pounds below overall highweight Dubai Millennium but tops among older females.
As an individual
A tall, handsome bay mare, Riboletta was strongly made. “She loved to run,” co-owner Marie Jones said. As a racer, the long-striding mare preferred to stalk the pace before unleashing her stretch run; regular jockey Chris McCarron called her “a gem to ride.” Off the track, she was sweet-natured and sociable. She was retired due to a strained suspensory ligament in her left fore ankle, probably incurred during the running of the 2000 Breeders’ Cup Distaff (USA-G1), in which she finished seventh.
As a producer
Riboletta produced eight named foals, of which five started and nine won. The most important has been her 2009 daughter Maybe Sunday (by Any Given Saturday), dam of 2018 Grande Prêmio Cruzeiro do Sul (Brazilian Derby) (BRZ-G1) winner Olympic Hanoi (by Adriano).
Connections
Riboletta was bred by Haras Santa Ana do Rio Grande. In Brazil, she was trained by L. S. Vianna, In the United States, she was owned by Aaron and Marie Jones. Initially trained by Bob Baffert following her transfer to California, she was trained by Eduardo Inda during her championship season. As a broodmare, she remained in the Joneses' ownership until after the birth of her third foal, when she was sold to Darley America. She was pensioned about 2014 and was euthanized due to the infirmities of old age in 2021.
Pedigree notes
Riboletta is outcrossed through five generations. She is a full sister to 1999/2000 Brazilian Horse of the Year Super Power and to restricted stakes winner Tamara Princess. She is also a half sister to stakes winner Forest Attack (by Forestry) and to Perfect Valley (by Clackson), dam of 2010 Acacia Handicap (SAF-G3) winner Milk and Honey (by Belong to Me) and second dam of South African Group 2 winner Sweetie Pie.
Riboletta and her siblings are out of Brazilian listed stakes winner Joy Valley, whose dam Belle Valley (by 1985 Champagne Stakes, USA-G1, winner Mogambo, by Mr. Prospector) was a multiple Group 1 winner in Brazil. Produced from My Valley, a French import by 1962 French champion 3-year-old male Val de Loir out of the Tourment mare Emmy, Belle Valley is from a female line tracing back to two-time French champion filly Mistress Ford.
Books and media
Footage of Riboletta as a racehorse can be accessed within Jay Hovdey’s article of June 3, 2024 at Thoroughbred Racing Commentary (“Riboletta: ‘She Was Beautiful and She Loved to Run,” https://www.thoroughbredracing.com/articles/6273/riboletta-she-was-beautiful-and-she-loved-run-jay-hovdey-remembers-brazilian-sweetheart/).
Fun facts
Last updated: September 9, 2024
Race record
28 starts, 13 wins, 3 seconds, 3 thirds, US$1,555,103 (includes converted Brazilian earnings)
1998:
- Won Grande Prêmio Diana (BRZ-G1, 2000mT, Cidade Jardim)
- Won Grande Prêmio Carlos Telles e Carlos Gilberto da Rocha Faria (BRZ-G2, 2000mT, Gávea)
- Won Grande Prêmio Mariano Procópio (BRZ-G3, 1900mT, Gávea)
- 2nd Prêmio Joao Adhemar e Nelson A. Prado (BRZ-G2, 1600mT, Gávea)
1999:
- 3rd Bayakoa Handicap (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Hollywood)
2000:
- Won Beldame Stakes (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
- Won Vanity Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Hollywood)
- Won Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Ruffian Handicap (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Belmont)
- Won Milady Breeders' Cup Handicap (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Hollywood)
- Won Clement L. Hirsch Handicap (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Del Mar)
- Won Hawthorne Handicap (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Hollywood)
- 3rd San Gorgonio Handicap (USA-G2, 9FT, Santa Anita)
- 3rd Miss America Handicap (USA-L, 8FT, Golden Gate)
Honors
Eclipse Award, American champion older female (2000)
Assessments
Rated at 110 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older females of 1999, 15 pounds below champion Beautiful Pleasure.
Rated at 125 pounds in the Miler category on the 2000 International Classification for runners aged 4 and up, 9 pounds below overall highweight Dubai Millennium but tops among older females.
As an individual
A tall, handsome bay mare, Riboletta was strongly made. “She loved to run,” co-owner Marie Jones said. As a racer, the long-striding mare preferred to stalk the pace before unleashing her stretch run; regular jockey Chris McCarron called her “a gem to ride.” Off the track, she was sweet-natured and sociable. She was retired due to a strained suspensory ligament in her left fore ankle, probably incurred during the running of the 2000 Breeders’ Cup Distaff (USA-G1), in which she finished seventh.
As a producer
Riboletta produced eight named foals, of which five started and nine won. The most important has been her 2009 daughter Maybe Sunday (by Any Given Saturday), dam of 2018 Grande Prêmio Cruzeiro do Sul (Brazilian Derby) (BRZ-G1) winner Olympic Hanoi (by Adriano).
Connections
Riboletta was bred by Haras Santa Ana do Rio Grande. In Brazil, she was trained by L. S. Vianna, In the United States, she was owned by Aaron and Marie Jones. Initially trained by Bob Baffert following her transfer to California, she was trained by Eduardo Inda during her championship season. As a broodmare, she remained in the Joneses' ownership until after the birth of her third foal, when she was sold to Darley America. She was pensioned about 2014 and was euthanized due to the infirmities of old age in 2021.
Pedigree notes
Riboletta is outcrossed through five generations. She is a full sister to 1999/2000 Brazilian Horse of the Year Super Power and to restricted stakes winner Tamara Princess. She is also a half sister to stakes winner Forest Attack (by Forestry) and to Perfect Valley (by Clackson), dam of 2010 Acacia Handicap (SAF-G3) winner Milk and Honey (by Belong to Me) and second dam of South African Group 2 winner Sweetie Pie.
Riboletta and her siblings are out of Brazilian listed stakes winner Joy Valley, whose dam Belle Valley (by 1985 Champagne Stakes, USA-G1, winner Mogambo, by Mr. Prospector) was a multiple Group 1 winner in Brazil. Produced from My Valley, a French import by 1962 French champion 3-year-old male Val de Loir out of the Tourment mare Emmy, Belle Valley is from a female line tracing back to two-time French champion filly Mistress Ford.
Books and media
Footage of Riboletta as a racehorse can be accessed within Jay Hovdey’s article of June 3, 2024 at Thoroughbred Racing Commentary (“Riboletta: ‘She Was Beautiful and She Loved to Run,” https://www.thoroughbredracing.com/articles/6273/riboletta-she-was-beautiful-and-she-loved-run-jay-hovdey-remembers-brazilian-sweetheart/).
Fun facts
- After buying Riboletta, the Joneses ended up buying her dam, Joy Valley, and her full sister, Tamara Princess. All three became part of the Joneses’ broodmare band.
- At 2-5 odds, Riboletta was the heaviest favorite on the Breeders’ Cup card for 2000.
- Riboletta was put back into training after aborting her first pregnancy due to Mare Reproductive Loss Syndrome in 2001. She was unable to get back to the races and ended up returning to broodmare duty.
Last updated: September 9, 2024